Systems and methods to automatically activate distribution channels provided by business partners

• US 9,754,265 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2006
• Issued: 09/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Seelig, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gart, Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): GURSKI, AMANDA KAREN
• Application Number:
  US11/414,821
• Publication Number:
  US 20070255604A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,145 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06316 Sequencing of tasks or work
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0639 Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

Systems and methods to automatically activate distribution channels to be provided by potential business partners are disclosed. An example method to enable activation of a distribution channel provided by a client company for a host company disclosed herein comprises obtaining information concerning the client company, automatically triggering at least some of a plurality of host company departments to process the information to evaluate at least one of the client company or the distribution channel, and automatically processing machine readable evaluation indicators provided by the at least some of the plurality of host company departments and representative of respective evaluation decisions associated with the at least some of the plurality of host company departments to determine an overall evaluation result.

Claims

1. A method to activate a distribution channel, the method comprising:

obtaining first information concerning a client company that is to provide a distribution channel on behalf of a host company;

electronically triggering, using a processor, at least some of a plurality of host company departments to process the first information to evaluate at least one of the client company or the distribution channel;

electronically processing, using the processor, machine readable evaluation indicators provided by the at least some of the plurality of host company departments and representative of respective evaluation decisions associated with the at least some of the plurality of host company departments to determine an overall evaluation result; and

after the overall evaluation result indicates approval of the distribution channel, electronically implementing, using the processor, the distribution channel by;

establishing, over a communication network, a secure communication interface between the host company and a web application implemented by the client company, the secure communication interface to carry second information describing characteristics, which are updateable in real-time, of host company services to be provided by the host company for distribution by the client company;

configuring the distribution channel using a profile associated with the client company, the profile to provide the client company with access to real-time pricing data specified by the host company for the host company services to be distributed by the client company, the real-time pricing data determined specifically for the client company by a partner relationship management application associated with the host company based on (1) a combination of profile information from the profile and (2) a priority specified for the client company by the host company, the combination of profile information being based on the first information and including service type information, service quota information, pricing discount information, and billing and compensation procedure information associated with the host company services to be distributed by the client company; and

obtaining a screenshot of the web application that is based on at least some of the second information to validate operation of the distribution channel.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the first information comprises at least one of characteristics of services the client company proposes to at least one of sell or purchase, client company distribution locations, pricing information, billing information, a non-disclosure agreement, partnership contract terms or distribution channel test information.

3. The method as defined in claim 1 further comprising at least one of acquiring a potential distribution channel provider, configuring parameters of the distribution channel, developing functionality of the distribution channel or verifying functionality of the distribution channel.

4. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the plurality of host company departments comprises at least one of a sales department, a marketing department, an accounting department, a human resources department, an information technology department or a distribution department.

5. The method as defined in claim 1 further comprising storing the first information in a central facility accessible by the plurality of host company departments.

6. The method as defined in claim 5 wherein storing the first information in a central facility comprises processing the first information with the partner relationship management application.

7. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein automatically triggering the at least some of the plurality of host company departments to process the first information comprises sending a message to the at least some of the plurality of host company departments over a second communication network.

8. The method as defined in claim 7 wherein the message comprises at least one of an email message, an instant message, an automatic phone call or a voicemail message.

9. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein automatically processing the machine readable evaluation indicators provided by the at least some of the plurality of host company departments comprises receiving the machine readable evaluation indicators over a second communication network.

10. The method as defined in claim 9 wherein the machine readable evaluation indicators comprise at least one of email messages, instant messages, automatic phone calls or voicemail messages.

11. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein automatically processing the machine readable evaluation indicators provided by the at least some of the plurality of host company departments comprises:

determining whether all required machine readable evaluation indicators have been received from the at least some of the plurality of host company departments; and

approving the distribution channel when each required machine readable evaluation indicator received from each respective host company department indicates approval of the at least one of the client company or the distribution channel.

12. The method as defined in claim 11 further comprising sending a message to the client company to at least one of:

(1) indicate that the at least one of the client company or the distribution channel was approved, or (2) request additional information from the client company when the at least one of the client company or the distribution channel was not approved.

13. The method as defined in claim 1 further comprising sending a message to the client company indicating that distribution channel activation is complete.

14. The method as defined in claim 1 further comprising providing the client company with access to functionality associated with the partner relationship management application operating at the host company when the overall evaluation result indicates approval of the at least one of the client company or the distribution channel.

15. A partner relationship management system comprising:

a memory having machine readable instructions stored thereon; and

a processor to execute the instructions to perform operations comprising;

processing a first machine readable evaluation indicator provided by a first host company computer and a second machine readable evaluation indicator provided by a second host company computer to determine whether to activate a distribution channel that is to be provided by a client company on behalf of a host company, the first and second machine readable evaluation indicators being determined based on first information obtained from the client company; and

after the first and second machine readable evaluation indicators both indicate approval of the distribution channel, implementing the distribution channel by;

establishing, over a communication network, a secure communication interface between the host company and a web application at the client company, the secure communication interface to carry second information describing characteristics, which are updateable in real-time, of host company services to be provided by the host company for distribution by the client company;

configuring the distribution channel using a profile associated with the client company, the profile to provide the client company with access to real-time pricing data specified by the host company for host company services to be distributed by the client company, the real-time pricing data determined specifically for the client company by an application associated with the host company based on (1) a combination of profile information from the profile and (2) a priority specified for the client company by the host company, the combination of profile information being based on the first information and including service type information, service quota information, pricing discount information, and billing and compensation procedure information associated with the host company services to be distributed by the client company; and

obtaining a screenshot of the web application that is based on at least some of the second information to validate operation of the distribution channel.

16. The partner relationship management system as defined in claim 15 further comprising an interface to provide the client company with access to at least some features provided by the partner relationship management system.

17. The partner relationship management system as defined in claim 15 wherein the first information comprises at least one of characteristics of services the client company proposes to at least one of sell or purchase, client company distribution locations, pricing information, billing information, a non-disclosure agreement or partnership contract terms.

18. The partner relationship management system as defined in claim 15 wherein the first host company computer and the second host company computer are to approve the first information based on different criteria.

19. The partner relationship management system as defined in claim 15 wherein the operations further comprise sending at least one of an email message or an instant message to the at least some of the plurality of host company departments to trigger the first host company computer and the second host company computer.

20. The partner relationship management system as defined in claim 15 wherein the machine readable evaluation indicators comprise at least one of email messages or instant messages.

21. The partner relationship management system as defined in claim 15 wherein processing the first machine readable evaluation indicator and the second machine readable evaluation indicator comprises:

determining whether the first machine readable evaluation indicator and the second machine readable evaluation indicator were received; and

permitting activation of the distribution channel when the first machine readable evaluation indicator and the second machine readable evaluation indicator indicate that the first information was approved by the first host company computer and the second host company computer.

22. The partner relationship management system as defined in claim 15 wherein the operations further comprise providing the client company with access to functionality associated with the partner relationship management system after activation of the distribution channel.

23. A distribution channel activator comprising:

a memory having machine readable instructions stored thereon; and

a processor to execute the instructions to perform operations comprising;

sending a trigger to a host company department to initiate processing of first information, obtained from a client company offering to provide a distribution channel for a host company, to determine whether to approve the distribution channel;

monitoring for receipt of an indicator from the host company department, the indicator to indicate that processing of the first information is complete;

providing a notification to the client company indicating whether the distribution channel has been approved; and

after the distribution channel has been approved, (1) establishing, over a communication network, a secure communication interface between the host company and a web application implemented by the client company, the secure communication interface to carry second information describing characteristics, which are updateable in real-time, of host company services to be provided by the host company for distribution by the client company, (2) configuring the distribution channel using a profile associated with the client company, the profile to provide the client company with access to real-time pricing data specified by the host company for the host company services to be distributed by the client company, the real-time pricing data determined specifically for the client company by a partner relationship management application associated with the host company based on (a) a combination of profile information from the profile and (b) a priority specified for the client company by the host company, the combination of profile information being based on the first information and including service type information, service quota information, pricing discount information, and billing and compensation procedure information associated with the host company services to be distributed by the client company, and (3) obtaining a screenshot of the web application that is based on at least some of the second information to validate operation of the distribution channel.

24. The distribution channel activator as defined in claim 23 wherein the processor at least one of implements the partner relationship management application, or is communicatively coupled with the partner relationship management application.

25. The distribution channel activator as defined in claim 24 wherein the partner relationship management application is to be accessible by at least one of the host company department or the client company.

26. The distribution channel activator as defined in claim 23 wherein the operations further comprise storing the first information in a location accessible by the host company department.

27. The distribution channel activator as defined in claim 26 wherein the first information comprises machine readable information and the location comprises a database.

28. The distribution channel activator as defined in claim 23 wherein the operations further comprise providing access to data entered into at least one of an electronic application or an electronic non-disclosure agreement.

29. The distribution channel activator as defined in claim 23 wherein the operations further comprise prompting the client company to provide the first information.

30. The distribution channel activator as defined in claim 23 wherein the operations further comprise sending a second notification to the client company, after receipt of the indicator, to request additional information from the client company.

31. The distribution channel activator as defined in claim 30 wherein the message comprises at least one of an email message, an instant message, and automated phone call or a voicemail message.

32. A tangible machine readable storage medium device comprising machine readable instructions which, when executed, cause a machine to perform operations comprising:

triggering at least some of a plurality of host company departments to evaluate first information corresponding to a potential distribution channel to be provided by a client company for a host company;

processing machine readable evaluation indicators provided by the at least some of the plurality of host company departments and representative of respective evaluation decisions associated with the at least some of the plurality of host company departments to determine an overall evaluation result; and

after the overall evaluation result indicates approval of the distribution channel, (1) establishing, over a communication network, a secure communication interface between the host company and a web application implemented by the client company, the secure communication interface to carry second information describing characteristics, which are updateable in real-time, of host company services to be provided by the host company for distribution by the client company, (2) configuring the distribution channel using a profile associated with the client company, the profile to provide the client company with access to real-time pricing data specified by the host company for the host company services to be distributed by the client company, the real-time pricing data determined specifically for the client company by a partner relationship management application based on (a) a combination of profile information from the profile and (b) a priority specified for the client company by the host company, the combination of profile information being based on the first information and including service type information, service quota information, pricing discount information, and billing and compensation procedure information associated with the host company services to be distributed by the client company, and (3) obtaining a screenshot of the web application that is based on at least some of the second information to validate operation of the distribution channel.

33. The storage device as defined in claim 32 wherein processing the machine readable evaluation indicators provided by the at least some of the plurality of host company departments comprises:

determining whether all required machine readable evaluation indicators have been received from the at least some of the plurality of host company departments; and

approving the first information corresponding to the potential distribution channel when each required machine readable evaluation indicator received from each respective host company department indicates approval of the first information.

34. The storage device as defined in claim 33 wherein the operations further comprise sending a second notification to the client company to request additional information from the client company when the first information corresponding to the potential distribution channel was not approved.