Service subscription service business

• US 7,505,924 B1
• Filed: 05/23/2001
• Issued: 03/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Clay T. Whitehead
• Original Assignee: Clay T. Whitehead
• Inventors: Whitehead, Clay T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Garg; Yogesh C
• Application Number:
  US09/863,010
• Time in Patent Office: 2,855 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14, 705/26, 705/27, 709/206, 725/36
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0225 Avoiding frauds
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants

Abstract

A service subscription service business is a service provided to individuals and businesses that finds a lowest-cost provider or providers for subscription products and services as well as for one-time purchases of products and services. The system preferably administers the consumer items over a global network such as the Internet. A user profile is compiled that relates to desired consumer items. The database of items available from product and service providers can be accessed, and relevant items are identified according to the user profile. If the user profile incorporates an automatic best choice service, the system automatically implements the relevant items and communicates the implemented relevant items to the user. Alternatively, if the user profile does not incorporate the automatic best choice service, the items are communicated to the user, and the user is given an opportunity to selectively implement the relevant items. The user profile may be compiled or supplemented by monitoring a pattern of consumer item use. Additionally, the consumer profile can be monitored according to user-entered parameters. With this system, a customer can be assured that products and services desired by the customer are being maintained at a best available cost.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of administering consumer items over a global network, the method comprising:

(a) a user compiling a user profile relating to desired consumer items, via a user computer, the user profile being compiled according to parameters entered by the user via the user computer;

(b) the user computer accessing via the global network a database of items available from product and service providers stored on a system server, and identifying relevant items according to the user profile, the relevant items being those that most benefit the user cost-wise;

(c) providing the user with an option selectable via the user computer to incorporate in the user profile an automatic best choice service;

(d) if the user profile incorporates the automatic best choice service, the system server automatically accepting the relevant items without user intervention, and communicating the accepted relevant items to the user; and

(e) if the user profile does not incorporate the automatic best choice service, the system server communicating the relevant items to the user, and enabling the user to selectively accept the relevant items.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein step (a) is practiced by monitoring a pattern of consumer item use.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising periodically repeating steps (b)-(e).

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein in step (b), the relevant items are identified based on a lowest cost consistent with the user profile.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the communicating in steps (d) and (e) are performed via electronic mail.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the consumer items comprise subscription services.

7. A method according to claim 1, practiced on a one-time basis to effect a purchase of a particular product.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein step (d) is practiced by identifying related items separately and in combinations that are available at low incremental cost, and communicating the identified related items to the user.

9. A computer-implemented method of obtaining and maintaining consumer items including products and services at a lowest available cost over a global network, the method comprising:

(a) a user compiling a user profile according to a pattern of customer use and user-entered parameters, via a user computer, the user-entered parameters being entered via the user computer;

(b) a system server maintaining a database of items available from product and service providers;

(c) the user computer accessing the database of items via the global network and identifying relevant items according to the user profile, the relevant items being those that most benefit the user cost-wise;

(d) providing the user with an option selectable via the user computer to incorporate in the user profile an automatic best choice service;

(e) if the user profile incorporates the automatic best choice service, the system server automatically accepting the relevant items without user intervention, and communicating the accepted relevant items to the user; and

(f) if the user profile does not incorporate the automatic best choice service, the system server communicating the relevant items to the user, and enabling the user to selectively accept the relevant items.

10. A method according to claim 9, further comprising periodically repeating steps (b)-(f).

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein in step (c), the relevant items are identified based on a lowest cost consistent with the user profile.

12. A method according to claim 9, wherein the communicating in steps (e) and (f) are performed via electronic mail.

13. A method according to claim 9, wherein the consumer items comprise subscription services.

14. A method according to claim 9, practiced on a one-time basis to effect a purchase of a particular product.

15. A computer system for administering consumer items, the computer system comprising:

at least one user computer running a computer program that compiles a user profile relating to desired consumer items and accesses a database of items available from product and service providers, the computer program identifying relevant items according to the user profile, the relevant items being those that most benefit the user cost-wise, wherein the user profile is compiled according to parameters entered by the user via the user computer; and

a system server running a server program, the at least one user computer and the system server being interconnected by a computer network, the system server maintaining at least a portion of the database of available items, providing the user with an option selectable via the user computer to incorporate in the user profile an automatic best choice service, and effecting acceptance of the relevant items according to user preferences,

wherein if the user profile incorporates the automatic best choice service, the computer program automatically accepting the relevant items without user intervention, and communicating the accepted relevant items to the user, and

wherein if the user profile does not incorporate the automatic best choice service, the computer program communicating the relevant items to the user, and enabling the user to selectively accept the relevant items.

16. A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium for administering consumer items via a user computer, the computer program comprising:

means for compiling a user profile relating to desired consumer items based at least on user-entered parameters, entered via the user computer;

means for accessing a database of items available from product and service providers, for identifying relevant items according to the user profile, and for providing the user with an option selectable via the user computer to incorporate in the user profile an automatic best choice service, the relevant items being those that most benefit the user cost-wise;

wherein if the user profile incorporates the automatic best choice service, means for automatically accepting the relevant items without user intervention, and for communicating the accepted relevant items to the user; and

if the user profile does not incorporate the automatic best choice service, means for communicating the relevant items to the user, and for enabling the user to selectively accept the relevant items.