Service plan optimizer

• US 7,986,935 B1
• Filed: 10/26/2007
• Issued: 07/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Innovations LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Moore, Susan, Narayan, Anitha, Madigan, Edwin, D'Souza, Anita
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Danh C
• Application Number:
  US11/924,860
• Time in Patent Office: 1,369 Days
• Field of Search: 455/406, 455/405, 455/550.1, 379/114.02, 705/34
• US Class Current: 455/406
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/58 based on statistics of usage or network monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8022 Determining tariff or charge band
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8044 Least cost routing

Abstract

A service plan optimizer is provided. The service plan optimizer includes a storage device, a processor, an optimizer engine, and a user interface. The storage device stores usage data for a communication device. The optimizer engine is executed by the processor to compare a current service plan for the communication device with available service plans based on the stored usage data. The optimizer engine is also executed by the processor to form a recommendation based on the comparison. The user interface displays the recommendation.

Claims

1. A service plan optimizer, comprising:

a storage device to store usage data for a communication device;

a processor;

an optimizer engine executed by the processor to compare a current service plan for the communication device with available service plans based on the stored usage data, and to form a recommendation based on the comparison;

a first user interface to display the recommendation and to receive a user request to modify the current service plan to a recommended service plan based on the recommendation; and

a second user interface to report on how often each of the available service plans is recommended and how often each option is recommended and to report on user requests to modify the current service plan to a recommended service plan, service plan costs for users that use the service plan optimizer, and user retention rates for users that use the service plan optimizer.

2. The service plan optimizer of claim 1, wherein the usage data comprises data associated with at least one of usage history, text messages, roaming calls, anytime minutes, mobile to mobile minutes, nighttime and weekend minutes, walkie-talkie minutes, and long distance calls.

3. The service plan optimizer of claim 1, wherein the stored usage data is based on at least one of an average of the usage data, actual usage data, and standard deviation usage data.

4. The service plan optimizer of claim 1, wherein the optimizer engine loads the current service plan, the available service plans, and the stored usage data into a normalization table to compare service plans based on primary features and options.

5. The service plan optimizer of claim 1, wherein the user interface is further configured to modify the current service plan to a recommended service plan based on a user request.

6. The service plan optimizer of claim 1, wherein the recommendation comprises a cost under the current service plan and a projected cost under a recommended service plan, based on the stored usage data.

7. The service plan optimizer of claim 1, wherein the recommendation comprises a suggestion to discontinue an option.

8. The service plan optimizer of claim 1, wherein the recommendation comprises different scenarios based on projected usage data.

9. The service plan optimizer of claim 1, wherein the recommendation is further based on a promotional offer for a recommended service plan.

10. The service plan optimizer of claim 1, wherein the recommendation comprises a recommended service plan based on users with similar usage data.

11. The service plan optimizer of claim 1, wherein the user interface displays the recommendation using multiple usage graphs.

12. The service plan optimizer of claim 1, wherein the user interface displays the recommendation using a usage graph that depicts usage data based on a previous service plan.

13. A computer implemented method for a service plan optimizer, comprising:

storing usage data for a communication device;

displaying the usage data;

selecting at least a portion of the usage data based on a user input;

comparing a current service plan for the communication device with available service plans based on the selected usage data;

forming a recommendation based on the comparison;

displaying the recommendation;

modifying the current service plan to a recommended service plan based on a user request;

reporting on how often each of the available service plans is recommended and how often each option is recommended; and

reporting on user requests to modify the current service plan to a recommended service plan, service plan costs for users that use the service plan optimizer, and user retention rates for users that use the service plan optimizer.

14. The computer implemented method of claim 13, further comprising assigning a weight to at least one of a primary feature and an option, wherein comparing the current service plan for the communication device with available service plans based on the selected usage data is based at least in part on the weight.

15. A service plan optimizer, comprising:

a storage device to store usage data for a group of communication devices;

a first user interface to display the usage data and to select at least a portion of the usage data based on a user input;

a processor;

an optimizer engine executed by the processor to compare a current service plan for the group of communication devices with available service plans based on the selected usage data, and to form a recommendation based on the comparison; and

a second user interface to report on how often each of the available service plans is recommended and how often each option is recommended and to report on user requests to modify the current service plan to a recommended service plan, service plan costs for users that use the service plan optimizer, and user retention rates for users that use the service plan optimizer;

wherein the first user interface is further configured to display the recommendation and to receive a user request to modify the current service plan to a recommended service plan based on the recommendation.

16. The service plan optimizer of claim 15, wherein the recommendation comprises a suggestion to remove a communication device from the current service plan for the group of communication devices.

17. The service plan optimizer of claim 15, wherein the recommendation comprises a suggestion to add a communication device to the current service plan for the group of communication devices.

18. The service plan optimizer of claim 15, wherein the recommendation comprises a suggestion to obtain a communication device model that is compatible with a recommended service plan.