Methods and systems for processing telephonic communications and product data

• US 9,195,973 B1
• Filed: 09/15/2012
• Issued: 11/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David J. Brahm, David S. Trandal
• Original Assignee: David J. Brahm, David S. Trandal
• Inventors: Trandal, David S., Brahm, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): SING, SIMON P
• Application Number:
  US13/621,048
• Time in Patent Office: 1,165 Days
• Field of Search: 705302-305
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/01 Customer relationship services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1058 Shopping and product ordering
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/51 Centralised call answering arrangements requiring operator intervention , e.g. call or contact centers for telemarketing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/003 Click to dial services

Abstract

The present invention relates to telecommunications processing and managing product data using voice and data networks. A purchase is recorded in a telephonic processing system. A warranty duration is determined for the purchased item. A warranty start and end date is established for the item purchase. Claims instructions are sent to a user including a first phone address. A call from a caller directed to the first phone address is received at a telephonic processing system coupled to at least one network, wherein the call is associated with call signaling information. An outbound call is generated from the telephonic processing system to a second phone address wherein the second phone address is determined at least in part from the signaling information associated with the received call. The received call is connected to the first outbound call. Call detail attributes associated with the connected calls are recorded.

Claims

1. A method of facilitating maintenance comprising:

registering a user over a data network by a Telecom and Product Management system wherein the registration includes a first user account and a one or more addresses to contact the user;

storing the created first user account including the one or more contact addresses in computer readable memory;

storing by the Telecom and Product Management system, at least a portion of information associated with a purchase of an item by the user wherein the stored purchase information includes a purchase date and a product identifier of the purchased item;

determining by the Telecom and Product Management system accessing a one or more first data stores, manufacturer recommended maintenance tasks and corresponding maintenance task intervals for the purchased item based at least in part on the purchased item product identifier;

generating by the Telecom and Product Management system, a calendarized schedule of a one or more maintenance tasks for the purchased item based at least in part;

on the determined manufacturer recommended maintenance tasks, on the determined maintenance task intervals, and on the purchased item purchase date;

providing by the Telecom and Product Management system, a first user interface for the user to view, edit, or view and edit, over a network, the calendar of scheduled maintenance tasks for the purchased item wherein the first user interface includes an option to reschedule a one or more of the scheduled maintenance tasks;

comparing by the Telecom and Product Management system, a current date with the calendar of scheduled maintenance tasks for the purchased item, and if a one or more of the scheduled maintenance tasks is now required then storing a status indicator that the corresponding one or more tasks are due;

querying by the Telecom and Product Management system, a one or more second data stores, using at least in part, the purchased item product identifier for a one or more scheduled maintenance tasks, to ascertain if any maintenance parts are required to perform said one or more scheduled maintenance tasks;

storing any ascertained maintenance parts required to perform said one or more scheduled maintenance tasks in computer readable memory;

transmitting by the Telecom and Product Management system, a notification to the user at one or more of the user'"'"'s registered contact addresses, regarding the one or more scheduled maintenance tasks that are due; and

providing by the Telecom and Product Management system, a second user interface whereby the user can view any ascertained maintenance parts that are required to perform said one or more scheduled maintenance tasks.

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

providing by the Telecom and Product Management system via the second user interface, an option to purchase a one or more of the ascertained maintenance parts that are required to perform said one or more scheduled maintenance tasks.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the second user interface is the first user interface.

4. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the second user interface is provided via a mobile phone of the user.

5. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

automatically shipping to the user a one or more of the ascertained maintenance parts that are required to perform the one or more scheduled maintenance tasks that are due wherein the address that the maintenance parts are automatically shipped to is one of the user'"'"'s stored contact addresses.

6. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

providing by the Telecom and Product Management system via the second user interface, an option to view installation instructions for a one or more of the one or more scheduled maintenance tasks.

7. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

providing an electronic interface by the Telecom and Product Management system, whereby a product manufacturer downloads over the electronic interface product information including (a) one or more manufacturer recommended maintenance tasks, (b) manufacturer recommended maintenance task intervals, (c) manufacturer installation instructions, or any combination of (a), (b), and (c);

storing by the Telecom and Product Management system, (a) (b) (c) or any combination of (a), (b), and (c);

providing a manufacturer'"'"'s user interface by the Telecom and Product Management system, whereby a product manufacturer can view, edit, or view and edit stored (a), (b), (c), or any combination of (a), (b), and (c).

8. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the product identifier of the purchased item is a make, a model, or a make and a model.

9. The method as defined in claim 8, wherein the make is a manufacturer'"'"'s name.

10. The method as defined in claim 8, wherein the model is a name or a number corresponding to one or more products sold by the manufacturer.

11. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first data store and the second data store are the same data store.

12. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the user notification is an SMS/MMS message or an email message.

13. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the user notification is a widget software application state change.

14. A method of facilitating maintenance comprising:

registering a user over a first data network by a Telecom and Product Management system wherein the registration includes a first user account and a one or more shipping addresses of the user;

storing the created first user account including the one or more contact addresses in computer readable memory;

storing by the Telecom and Product Management system, at least a portion of information associated with a purchase of an item by the user wherein the stored purchase information includes a purchase date and a product identifier of the purchased item;

determining by the Telecom and Product Management system accessing a one or more first data stores, manufacturer recommended maintenance tasks and corresponding maintenance task intervals for the purchased item based at least in part on the purchased item product identifier;

generating by the Telecom and Product Management system, a calendarized schedule of a one or more maintenance tasks for the purchased item based at least in part;

on the determined manufacturer recommended maintenance tasks, on the determined maintenance task intervals, and on the purchased item purchase date;

providing by the Telecom and Product Management system, a first user interface for the user to view, edit, or view and edit, over a network, the calendar of scheduled maintenance tasks for the purchased item wherein the first user interface includes an option to reschedule a one or more of the scheduled maintenance tasks;

comparing by the Telecom and Product Management system, a current date with the calendar of scheduled maintenance tasks for the purchased item, and if a one or more of the scheduled maintenance tasks is now required then storing a status indicator that the corresponding one or more tasks are due;

querying by the Telecom and Product Management system, a one or more second data stores, using at least in part, the purchased item product identifier for a one or more scheduled maintenance tasks, to ascertain if any maintenance parts are required to perform said one or more scheduled maintenance tasks;

storing any ascertained maintenance parts required to perform said one or more scheduled maintenance tasks in computer readable memory;

automatically shipping to the user at one of the registered user'"'"'s shipping addresses, a one or more of the ascertained maintenance parts that are required to perform the scheduled maintenance tasks that are due; and

providing by the Telecom and Product Management system, a second user interface whereby the user can view any ascertained maintenance parts that are required to perform said one or more scheduled maintenance tasks.

15. The method as defined in claim 14, wherein the second user interface is the first user interface.

16. The method as defined in claim 14, further comprising:

providing via the second user interface an option to view installation instructions for a one or more of the one or more scheduled maintenance tasks.

17. The method as defined in claim 14, further comprising:

providing an electronic interface by the Telecom and Product Management system, whereby a product manufacturer downloads over the electronic interface product information including (a) one or more manufacturer recommended maintenance tasks, (b) manufacturer recommended maintenance task intervals, (c) manufacturer installation instructions, or any combination of (a), (b), and (c);

storing by the Telecom and Product Management system, (a) (b) (c) or any combination of (a), (b), and (c);

providing a manufacturer'"'"'s user interface by the Telecom and Product Management system, whereby a product manufacturer can view, edit, or view and edit stored (a), (b), (c), or any combination of (a), (b), and (c).

18. The method as defined in claim 14, wherein the first data store and the second data store are the same data store.

19. The method as defined in claim 14, further comprising:

registering the user purchased item over a second data network with a manufacturer.

20. A system comprising:

at least one computing device;

program instructions stored in non-transitory memory, that when executed by the at least one computing device, are configured to cause the communication and claims processing system to perform operations comprising;

registering a user wherein the registration includes a first user account and a one or more shipping addresses of the user;

storing the created first user account including the one or more contact addresses;

storing at least a portion of information associated with a purchase of an item by the user wherein the stored purchase information includes a purchase date and a product identifier of the purchased item;

determining by accessing a one or more first data stores, manufacturer recommended maintenance tasks and corresponding maintenance task intervals for the purchased item based at least in part on the purchased item product identifier;

generating a calendarized schedule of a one or more maintenance tasks for the purchased item based at least in part;

on the determined manufacturer recommended maintenance tasks, on the determined maintenance task intervals, and on the purchased item purchase date;

providing first user interface for the user to view, edit, or view and edit, over a network, the calendar of scheduled maintenance tasks for the purchased item wherein the first user interface includes an option to reschedule a one or more of the scheduled maintenance tasks;

comparing a current date with the calendar of scheduled maintenance tasks for the purchased item, and if a one or more of the scheduled maintenance tasks is now required then storing a status indicator that the corresponding one or more tasks are due;

querying a one or more second data stores, using at least in part, the purchased item product identifier for a one or more scheduled maintenance tasks, to ascertain if any maintenance parts are required to perform said one or more scheduled maintenance tasks;

storing any ascertained maintenance parts required to perform said one or more scheduled maintenance tasks;

automatically shipping to the user at one of the registered user'"'"'s shipping addresses, a one or more of the ascertained maintenance parts that are required to perform the scheduled maintenance tasks that are due; and

providing a second user interface whereby the user can view any ascertained maintenance parts that are required to perform said one or more scheduled maintenance tasks.