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

• US 7,983,960 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2010
• Issued: 07/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fintegraph, LLC (Ascend Innovation Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Leod Network Holdings LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Rigole, Rod
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosen; Nicholas D
• Application Number:
  US12/725,397
• Publication Number:
  US 20100179882A1
• Time in Patent Office: 490 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14.4, 705/1.51, 705/14.53, 705/14.54, 705/14.55, 705/14.56, 705/26, 705/35, 705/26.41, 705/26.42, 705/26.43, 705/26.44
• US Class Current: 705/26.41
• 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; (b) a 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 computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving consumer profile data over a communication network, the consumer profile data including data usable to facilitate communications and transactions between at least one consumer and at least one service provider;

querying one or more databases for service programs that match the consumer profile data to a predetermined degree; and

automatically enrolling the at least one consumer in a matching service program that matches the consumer profile data to the predetermined degree;

wherein at least one of the querying or automatically enrolling is performed by a computing device.

2. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, further comprising periodically querying the one or more databases for other service programs that surpass the predetermined degree.

3. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, further comprising, responsive to locating another service program that better matches the consumer profile data than the matching service program, automatically switching the consumer to the other service program.

4. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

generating a notification for the consumer of an automatic enrollment in the matching service program; and

causing transmission of the notification to the consumer.

5. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, further comprising analyzing consumer bills and spending habits to determine if another service better suits one or more needs of the consumer.

6. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, further comprising causing presentation of an electronic page to enable input of the consumer profile data.

7. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 6, wherein the receiving comprises receiving the consumer profile data via the electronic page.

8. A computer-implemented method comprising:

using consumer profile data associated with a consumer to ascertain service programs that match the consumer profile data to a predetermined degree, the service programs being associated with a plurality of service sectors, at least some individual service sectors being represented by service programs from a plurality of service providers; and

responsive to ascertaining a matching service program, automatically enrolling the consumer in the matching service program;

wherein at least one of the using or automatically enrolling is performed by a computing device.

9. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 8, further comprising facilitating communication between the consumer and a service provider associated with the matching service program.

10. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 8, wherein automatically enrolling comprises causing presentation of an application for enrollment that includes at least some of the consumer profile data to a service provider associated with the matching service program effective to enable the service provider to assist in completing the application for enrollment for the consumer.

11. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 8, further comprising receiving authorization included in the consumer profile data to automatically enroll the consumer in the matching service program.

12. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 8, wherein automatically enrolling the consumer is performed by automatically enrolling the consumer in a service program that partially matches the consumer profile data.

13. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 8, further comprising:

ascertaining another service program that better matches the consumer profile data than the matching service program; and

automatically switching the consumer to the other service program.

14. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 8, further comprising storing the consumer profile data, which includes selectable criteria selected by the consumer.

15. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 8, further comprising using data from existing subscriptions of the consumer to create the consumer profile data.

16. A server comprising:

one or more processors;

one or more computer-readable media;

instructions stored on the one or more computer-readable media which, responsive to execution under the influence of the one or more processors, cause the server to perform operations comprising;

searching a database of service programs for service programs that match a consumer profile to a predetermined degree; and

responsive to a determination that a service program matches, automatically enrolling a consumer associated with the consumer profile in the service program that matches.

17. The server as recited in claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise:

periodically searching the database of service programs for another service program that surpasses the predetermined degree; and

responsive to locating the other service program that surpasses the predetermined degree, automatically switching enrollment of the consumer to the other service program.

18. The server as recited in claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise:

generating a notification for the consumer of an automatic enrollment in the matching service program; and

causing transmission of the notification to the consumer.

19. The server as recited in claim 16, wherein the database of service programs comprises service programs grouped under a plurality of service sectors, at least some individual sectors being represented by a plurality of service providers.

20. The server as recited in claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise analyzing consumer bills and spending habits to construct the consumer profile.

21. The server as recited in claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise causing presentation of an electronic page to enable construction of the consumer profile based on preferences of the consumer.

22. A server comprising:

one or more processors;

one or more computer-readable media;

instructions stored on the one or more computer-readable media which, responsive to execution under the influence of the one or more processors, cause the server to perform operations comprising;

receiving consumer profile data from a consumer computer system, the consumer profile data usable by an Interchange Party Computer System (IPCS) to query one or more databases of service programs for services that match the consumer profile data to a predetermined degree, the one or more databases 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;

querying the one or more databases for service programs that match the consumer profile data to a predetermined degree; and

causing presentation of information about matching service programs found in a query to the consumer computer system, the information comprising at least two notices of enrollment each presented on a different electronic page and each associated with a different service sector, at least one notice configured to notify the user of automatic enrollment in a service program that matches the consumer profile data to the predetermined degree and that is for a service under the respective service sectors.

23. The server as recited in claim 22, wherein the operations further comprise facilitating communication between the consumer computer system and a service provider associated with the service program.

24. The server as recited in claim 22, wherein the operations further comprise receiving authorization included in the consumer profile data to automatically enroll the consumer in the service program that matches the consumer profile data to the predetermined degree.

25. The server as recited in claim 22, wherein the operations further comprise automatically enrolling a consumer associated with the consumer computer system in the service program that matches the consumer profile data to the predetermined degree.

26. One or more tangible computer-readable media comprising instructions stored thereon that, responsive to execution by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:

presenting at least one electronic page including information about service offerings for a plurality of service sectors;

presenting at least one electronic page including an interface allowing input of profile data;

receiving profile data through the interface;

building a profile;

presenting at least one electronic page allowing one or more of the following;

application for or enrollment in service programs by completion of an online form and transmission of form data to a server or a computer system directly associated with the server;

determination of matching offers for service through the server, the server to maintain a record of enrollments;

establishment of automated bill payment with a service provider by transmission of a request for automated bill payment through the server;

request of an automatic notification of offers of service programs matching a profile;

authorization for automatic enrollment in one or more service programs matching the profile; and

responsive to receiving a selection of authorization for automatic enrollment, enabling automatic enrollment of a consumer in the one or more service programs matching the profile.

27. The one or more tangible computer-readable media of claim 26, wherein the instructions allow streamlining of a selection of service providers and management of service accounts.

28. The one or more tangible computer-readable media of claim 26, wherein the at least one electronic page including information about service offerings for a plurality of service sectors is organized by service sector.