Service trial system and method for individuals and communities
First Claim
1. A method for providing a trial online service accessible by a plurality of mobile wireless devices of, comprising:
- storing a Service Trial Client software module in a user'"'"'s mobile wireless devicedisplaying a service trial icon in the mobile wireless device with a link to a Service Trial Server;
wirelessly connecting the mobile wireless device to the Service Trial Server when the link is activated;
wirelessly downloading to the mobile wireless device from the Service Trial Server a general catalog of available online services;
displaying a Provider'"'"'s Service Trial Icon of an online service listed in the catalog associated with a service provider of an online service, the Provider'"'"'s service trial icon displayed with a link to trial-provisioning logic within the Service Trial Server to set up a trial service subscription to be provided by the service provider for a limited period of time for the user'"'"'s mobile wireless device;
activating the provider'"'"'s service trial icon and its associated link to set up the trial service subscription using the Service Trial Server to be provided by the service provider;
sending wireless addresses of one or more friends'"'"' wireless devices to the Service Trial Server in association with said activating step;
sending the user'"'"'s wireless network address from the Service Trial Server to the service provider;
receiving an authorization code from the service provider that is forwarded by the Service Trial Server to the Service Trial Client software module in the user'"'"'s mobile wireless device;
distributing said authorization code and an invitation to join in the trial to said wireless addresses of the one or more friends; and
accessing the service by the user'"'"'s and the friends'"'"' mobile wireless devices during the user'"'"'s trial period by;
directly addressing the service provider by the user'"'"'s mobile wireless device over the wireless network and sending the user'"'"'s authorization code;
sending by said service provider a query including the user'"'"'s wireless address and authorization code to the Service Trial Server;
checking by Said Service Trial Server to confirm that the user'"'"'s trial period has not expired;
responding by Said Service Trial Server to the service provider whether the user is still within the trial period; and
if still within the trial period, proceeding by the service provider to provide the service to the user.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Mobile wireless devices include a Service Trial Client that establishes a link to a Service Trial Server to set up temporary trials of online services. The Service Trial Client and Service Trial Server enable a service provider to attract potential customers with free trial subscriptions to an online service for a limited period of time. The trial subscription can be shared with friends of the customer for the limited period of time, thereby enabling the service provider to attract a larger number of potential customers. Monitoring logic is included in the Service Trial Server to review the record of each trial service subscriber on a periodic basis and to prompt the subscriber and the subscriber'"'"'s friends to subscribe the service provider'"'"'s normal paid-subscription service at the end of the trial period. The result is a complete over-the-air service trial and subscription tool that integrates discovery, trial and subscription functions for online services.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for providing a trial online service accessible by a plurality of mobile wireless devices of, comprising:
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storing a Service Trial Client software module in a user'"'"'s mobile wireless device displaying a service trial icon in the mobile wireless device with a link to a Service Trial Server; wirelessly connecting the mobile wireless device to the Service Trial Server when the link is activated; wirelessly downloading to the mobile wireless device from the Service Trial Server a general catalog of available online services; displaying a Provider'"'"'s Service Trial Icon of an online service listed in the catalog associated with a service provider of an online service, the Provider'"'"'s service trial icon displayed with a link to trial-provisioning logic within the Service Trial Server to set up a trial service subscription to be provided by the service provider for a limited period of time for the user'"'"'s mobile wireless device; activating the provider'"'"'s service trial icon and its associated link to set up the trial service subscription using the Service Trial Server to be provided by the service provider; sending wireless addresses of one or more friends'"'"' wireless devices to the Service Trial Server in association with said activating step; sending the user'"'"'s wireless network address from the Service Trial Server to the service provider; receiving an authorization code from the service provider that is forwarded by the Service Trial Server to the Service Trial Client software module in the user'"'"'s mobile wireless device; distributing said authorization code and an invitation to join in the trial to said wireless addresses of the one or more friends; and accessing the service by the user'"'"'s and the friends'"'"' mobile wireless devices during the user'"'"'s trial period by; directly addressing the service provider by the user'"'"'s mobile wireless device over the wireless network and sending the user'"'"'s authorization code; sending by said service provider a query including the user'"'"'s wireless address and authorization code to the Service Trial Server; checking by Said Service Trial Server to confirm that the user'"'"'s trial period has not expired; responding by Said Service Trial Server to the service provider whether the user is still within the trial period; and if still within the trial period, proceeding by the service provider to provide the service to the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for providing a trial online service accessible by a plurality of mobile wireless devices of, comprising:
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storing a Service Trial Client software module in a user'"'"'s mobile wireless device displaying a service trial icon in the mobile wireless device with a link to a Service Trial Server; wirelessly connecting the mobile wireless device to the Service Trial Server when the link is activated; wirelessly downloading to the mobile wireless device from the Service Trial Server a general catalog of available online services; displaying a Provider'"'"'s Service Trial Icon of an online service listed in the catalog associated with a service provider of an online service, the Provider'"'"'s service trial icon displayed with a link to trial-provisioning logic within the Service Trial Server to set up a trial service subscription to be provided by the service provider for a limited period of time for the user'"'"'s mobile wireless device; activating the provider'"'"'s service trial icon and its associated link to set up the trial service subscription using the Service Trial Server to be provided by the service provider; sending wireless addresses of one or more friends'"'"' wireless devices to the Service Trial Server in association with said activating step; sending the user'"'"'s wireless network address from the Service Trial Server to the service provider; receiving an authorization code from the service provider that is forwarded by the Service Trial Server to the Service Trial Client software module in the user'"'"'s mobile wireless device; distributing said authorization code and an invitation to join in the trial to said wireless addresses of the one or more friends; and accessing the service by the user'"'"'s and the friends'"'"' mobile wireless devices during the user'"'"'s trial period by; directly addressing the service provider by one of the friend'"'"'s mobile wireless devices over the wireless network and sending the user'"'"'s authorization code and user'"'"'s wireless address; sending by said service provider a query including the friend'"'"'s wireless address and user'"'"'s wireless address and user'"'"'s authorization code to the Service Trial Server; checking by Said Service Trial Server to confirm that the user'"'"'s trial period has not expired; responding by Said Service Trial Server to the service provider whether the user is still within the trial period; if still within the period, then proceeding by the service provider to provide the service to the friend; if the user'"'"'s trial period has expired, then the Service Trial Server sending a request directly to the user and the user'"'"'s friends to subscribe to the service provider'"'"'s normal paid-subscription service at the end of the trial period. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for providing a trial online service accessible by a plurality of mobile wireless devices, comprising:
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a Service Trial Client software module in a user'"'"'s mobile wireless device; a service trial icon in the mobile wireless device with a link to a Service Trial Server, wherein said Service Trial Server wirelessly connected to the mobile wireless device when the link is activated for downloading to the mobile wireless device a general catalog of available online services; said Service Trial Client displaying a Provider'"'"'s service trial icon of an online service listed in the catalog associated with a service provider of an online service, the Provider'"'"'s service trial icon displayed with a link to trial-provisioning logic within the Service Trial Server to set up a trial service subscription to be provided by the service provider to the user'"'"'s mobile wireless device for a limited period of time; said Service Trial Server responding to an activation of the provider'"'"'s service trial icon and its associated link to set up the trial service subscription to be provided by the service provider; said Service Trial Server receiving wireless addresses of one or more friends'"'"' wireless devices in association with said activating step; said Service Trial Server sending the user'"'"'s wireless network address to the service provider; said Service Trial Server receiving an authorization code from the service provider that is forwarded by the Service Trial Server to the Service Trial Client software module in the users mobile wireless device; said Service Trial Server distributing said authorization code and an invitation to join in the trial to said wireless addresses of the one or more friends; said user'"'"'s and the friends'"'"' mobile wireless devices accessing the service during the user'"'"'s trial period; said the user'"'"'s mobile wireless device directly addressing the service provider over the wireless network and sending the user'"'"'s authorization code; said Service Trial Server receiving from said service provider a query including the user'"'"'s wireless address and authorization code; said Service Trial Server checking to confirm that the user'"'"'s trial period has not expired; said Service Trial Server responding to the service provider whether the user is still within the trial period; and if still within the trial period, said service provider proceeding to provide the service to the user. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A system for providing a trial online service accessible by a plurality of mobile wireless devices, comprising:
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a Service Trial Client software module in a user'"'"'s mobile wireless device a service trial icon in the mobile wireless device with a link to a Service Trial Server, wherein said Service Trial Server wirelessly connected to the mobile wireless device when the link is activated for downloading to the mobile wireless device a general catalog of available online services; said Service Trial Client displaying a Provider'"'"'s service trial icon of an online service listed in the catalog associated with a service provider of an online service, the Provider'"'"'s service trial icon displayed with a link to trial-provisioning logic within the Service Trial Server to set up a trial service subscription to be provided by the service provider to the user'"'"'s mobile wireless device for a limited period of time; said Service Trial Server responding to an activation of the provider'"'"'s service trial icon and its associated link to set up the trial service subscription to be provided by the service provider; said Service Trial Server receiving wireless addresses of one or more friends'"'"' wireless devices in association with said activating step; said Service Trial Server sending the user'"'"'s wireless network address to the service provider; said Service Trial Server receiving an authorization code from the service provider that is forwarded by the Service Trial Server to the Service Trial Client software module in the users mobile wireless device; said Service Trial Server distributing said authorization code and an invitation to join in the trial to said wireless addresses of the one or more friends; said user'"'"'s and the friends'"'"' mobile wireless devices accessing the service during the user'"'"'s trial period; one of said friend'"'"'s mobile wireless devices directly addressing the service provider over the wireless network and sending the user'"'"'s authorization code and user'"'"'s wireless address; said Service Trial Server receiving from said service provider a query including the friend'"'"'s wireless address and user'"'"'s wireless address and user'"'"'s authorization code; said Service Trial Server checking to confirm that the user'"'"'s trial period has not expired;
said Service Trial Server responding to the service provider whether the user is still within the trial period;if still within the period, then said service provider proceeding to provide the service to the friend; if the user'"'"'s trial period has expired, then said Service Trial Server sending a request directly to the user and the user'"'"'s friends to subscribe to the service provider'"'"'s normal paid-subscription service at the end of the trial period.
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19. A computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause a system to at least perform the following steps:
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storing a Service Trial Client software module in a user'"'"'s mobile wireless device displaying a service trial icon in the mobile wireless device with a link to a Service Trial Server; wirelessly connecting the mobile wireless device to the Service Trial Server when the link is activated; wirelessly downloading to the mobile wireless device from the Service Trial Server a general catalog of available online services; displaying a Provider'"'"'s service trial icon of an online service listed in the catalog associated with a service provider of an online service, the Provider'"'"'s service trial icon displayed with a link to trial-provisioning logic within the Service Trial Server to set up a trial service subscription to be provided by the service provider for a limited period of time for the user'"'"'s mobile wireless device; activating the provider'"'"'s service trial icon and its associated link to set up the trial service subscription using the Service Trial Server to be provided by the service provider; sending wireless addresses of one or more friends'"'"' wireless devices to the Service Trial Server in association with said activating step; sending the user'"'"'s wireless network address from the Service Trial Server to the service provider; receiving an authorization code from the service provider that is forwarded by the Service Trial Server to the Service Trial Client software module in the user'"'"'s mobile wireless device; distributing said authorization code and an invitation to join in the trial to said wireless addresses of the one or more friends; and accessing the service by the user'"'"'s and the friends'"'"' mobile wireless devices during the user'"'"'s trial period by; directly addressing the service provider by the user'"'"'s mobile wireless device over the wireless network and sending the user'"'"'s authorization code; sending by said service provider a query including the user'"'"'s wireless address and authorization code to the Service Trial Server; checking by Said Service Trial Server to confirm that the user'"'"'s trial period has not expired; responding by Said Service Trial Server to the service provider whether the user is still within the trial period; and determining if still within the trial period, then proceeding by the service provider to provide the service to the user. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause a system to at least perform the following steps:
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storing a Service Trial Client software module in a user'"'"'s mobile wireless device; displaying a service trial icon in the mobile wireless device with a link to a Service Trial Server; wirelessly connecting the mobile wireless device to the Service Trial Server when the link is activated; wirelessly downloading to the mobile wireless device from the Service Trial Server a general catalog of available online services; displaying a Provider'"'"'s service trial icon of an online service listed in the catalog associated with a service provider of an online service, the Provider'"'"'s service trial icon displayed with a link to trial-provisioning logic within the Service Trial Server to set up a trial service subscription to be provided by the service provider for a limited period of time for the user'"'"'s mobile wireless device; activating the provider'"'"'s service trial icon and its associated link to set up the trial service subscription using the Service Trial Server to be provided by the service provider; sending wireless addresses of one or more friends'"'"' wireless devices to the Service Trial Server in association with said activating step; sending the user'"'"'s wireless network address from the Service Trial Server to the service provider; receiving an authorization code from the service provider that is forwarded by the Service Trial Server to the Service Trial Client software module in the user'"'"'s mobile wireless device; distributing said authorization code and an invitation to join in the trial to said wireless addresses of the one or more friends; and accessing the service by the user'"'"'s and the friends'"'"' mobile wireless devices during the user'"'"'s trial period by; directly addressing the service provider by one of the friend'"'"'s mobile wireless devices over the wireless network and sending the user'"'"'s authorization code and user'"'"'s wireless address; sending by said service provider a query including the friend'"'"'s wireless address and user'"'"'s wireless address and user'"'"'s authorization code to the Service Trial Server; checking by said Service Trial Server to confirm that the user'"'"'s trial period has not expired; responding by said Service Trial Server to the service provider whether the user is still within the trial period; determining if still within the period, then proceeding by the service provider to provide the service to the friend; determining if the user'"'"'s trial period has expired, then the Service Trial Server sending a request directly to the user and the user'"'"'s friends to subscribe to the service provider'"'"'s normal paid-subscription service at the end of the trial period.
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Specification