Determining if a potential customer is a desirable customer

• US 8,090,617 B1
• Filed: 08/27/2001
• Issued: 01/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Renesas Electronics America Inc.(f/k/a Integrated Device Technology, Inc) (Renesas Electronics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Renesas Electronics America Inc.(f/k/a Integrated Device Technology, Inc) (Renesas Electronics Corporation)
• Inventors: Ladd, Barton H., Baqar, Mir M., Ellern, June S., Fujita, Tadashi, Iyer, Priya R., Ogura, Gaku, Yada, Akikazu, Yamamori, Nobuaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Ade, Garcia
• Application Number:
  US09/939,949
• Time in Patent Office: 3,781 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing

Abstract

A method is taught of determining if a potential customer is a desirable customer. The manufacturer can determine if the potential customer is a potential competitor. If the potential customer can receive technical information from the potential customer and provide a price quotation for certain goods (or services). The manufacturer can determine if the potential customer intends to use a product other than for its intended application. In an embodiment, the potential customer can initially contact the manufacturer through an electronic communication network.

In accordance with one feature of the invention, a design is prepared. The design can be prepared in cooperation between the manufacturer and the potential customer or a third party can be included. In accordance with another feature, the potential customer can agree not to disclose technical information. In accordance with a feature of the invention the manufacturer can communicate with the potential customer and internal organizations as the method progresses. In accordance with a feature of the invention, a customer can track work-in-progress after manufacturing has begun. A feature also allows a customer to approve a sample received from the manufacturer.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

a first computer system receiving a request to access integrated circuit pricing information from a second computer system in data communication with the first computer system via the Internet, wherein the integrated circuit pricing information is stored in memory coupled to the first computer system;

the first computer system receiving first information identifying an entity; and

the first computer system comparing the first identifying information with a list of identifying information stored in memory;

the first computer system denying the second computer system access to integrated circuit pricing information stored in memory if the first identifying information compares equally to identifying information contained in the list.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

the first computer system receiving information relating to a non-disclosure agreement from the entity via the second computer system.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first identifying information comprises a name of the entity, a mailing address for the entity, or a phone number for the entity.