Methods and systems for providing a consumer shopping experience whereby the availability of services is indicated

• US 7,702,543 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2005
• Issued: 04/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: MacKay, Kenneth C., Phillips, Hilary P., Calhoun, Gloria J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith; Jeffrey A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Allen; William J.
• Application Number:
  US11/301,914
• Publication Number:
  US 20070136775A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,589 Days
• Field of Search: 705 26- 27, 705/28, 705/29, 705/75, 705/14, 705/1
• US Class Current: 705/26.4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0611 Request for offers or quotes

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for providing a consumer shopping experience. The disclosed systems and methods include receiving a user input and providing, in response to the user input, one of a first series of pages, a second series of pages, and a third series of pages. Furthermore, the first series of pages are configured to allow a user to select at least one of products and services from at least one business line before the first series of pages request personal information. In addition, the second series of pages are configured to indicate whether currently received services at a first location are available at a second location. Moreover, the third series of pages are configured to allow the user to select at least one of products and services from the at least one business line.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for providing a consumer shopping experience over a network, the method comprising:

receiving, by a shopping processor, a user input over the network;

providing, by the shopping processor, to the user over the network, in response to the user input, one of a first series of pages and a second series of pages, wherein,

the first series of pages are configured to allow a user to select at least one of products and services from at least one business line and

the second series of pages are configured to indicate whether currently received services at a first location are available at a second location and which of said currently received services are not available at said second location; and

responsive to the user selecting a plurality of products or services a la cart, providing by the shopping processor to a user computer, a web page configured for displaying a better deal configuration to the user when a better deal exists, wherein the better deal configuration provides at least the plurality of a la cart products and services at a price that is less than a price quoted for the plurality of products or services.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first series of pages are configured to allow the user to select the at least one of products and services from the at least one business line comprising at least one of the following:

local telecommunication service, long distance telecommunication service, wired or wireless voice service, wired or wireless data service, and television (TV) service.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein providing, in response to the user input, one of the first series of pages, and the second series of pages, wherein at least one of the first series of pages correspond to a new order and the second series of pages correspond to a transfer order.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second series of pages are configured to indicate whether currently received services at the first location are available at the second location wherein the second location is a location where the user indicates an intention to move to.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first series of pages provides at least one of a page corresponding to a bundle builder and a page corresponding to at least one featured bundle.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising postponing, by the shopping processor, a request for personal information from the user until after the user has selected said at least one product or service, wherein the personal information comprises at least one of the following:

a password, payment data, personal information, and address information.

7. A system for providing a consumer shopping experience, the system comprising:

a memory storage; and

a processing unit coupled to the memory storage, wherein the processing unit is operative to;

receive a user input;

provide, in response to the user input, one of a first series of pages and a second series of pages, wherein,

the first series of pages are configured to allow a user to select products and services a la cart from at least one business line, and

the second series of pages are configured to indicate whether currently received services at a first location are available at a second location and, when at least some of said currently received services are not available at said second location, indicate which of said currently received services are not available at said second location; and

responsive to the user selecting a plurality of products or services a la cart from a selected business line, displaying a bundle configuration to the user when a better deal exists, wherein the bundle configuration comprises a better deal when the bundle configuration provides at least the a la cart products and services at a price that is less than a price quoted for the a la cart products or services.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the first series of pages are configured to allow the user to select the a la cart products and services from the at least one business line comprising at least one of the following:

local telecommunication service, long distance telecommunication service, wired or wireless voice service, wired or wireless data service, and television (TV) service.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein at least one of the first series of pages correspond to a new order and the second series of pages correspond to a transfer order.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the second series of pages are configured to indicate whether currently received services at the first location are available at the second location wherein the second location is a location where the user indicates an intention to move to.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the first series of pages and the provides at least one of a page corresponding to a bundle builder and a page corresponding to at least one featured bundle.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium which stores a set of instructions, which, when executed, performs a method for providing a consumer shopping experience, the method executed by the set of instructions comprising:

receiving a user input;

providing, in response to the user input, one of a first series of pages and a second series of pages, wherein,

the first series of pages are configured to allow a user to select a plurality of products and services a la cart before the first series of pages request personal information

the second series of pages are configured to indicate whether currently received services at a first location are available at a second location and which of said currently received services are not available at said second location;

providing a service advisor page to the user, wherein the service advisor page presents at least one of the following;

a featured product, service, and bundle from the at least on business line according to the selection by the user of the a la cart products and services from the at least one business line; and

responsive to determining a better deal configuration, displaying the better deal configuration to the user, wherein the better deal configuration provides at least the plurality of a la cart products and services at a price that is less that a price quoted for the plurality of products or services.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the first series of pages are configured to allow the user to select the a la cart products and services from the at least one business line comprising at least one of the following:

local telecommunication service, long distance telecommunication service, wired or wireless voice service, wired or wireless data service, and television (TV) service.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein providing, in response to the user input, one of the first series of pages and the second series of pages, wherein at least one of the first series of pages correspond to a new order and the second series of pages correspond to a transfer order.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the second series of pages are configured to indicate whether currently received services at the first location are available at the second location wherein the second location is a location where the user indicates an intention to move to.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the first series of pages provides at least one of a page corresponding to a bundle builder and a page corresponding to at least one featured bundle.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the personal information comprises at least one of the following:

a password, payment data, personal information, and address information.