CUSTOMIZED COMMUNICATION DOCUMENT CREATION SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20070150351A1
• Filed: 12/29/2006
• Published: 06/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Richard Libman
• Inventors: Libman, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,856,375 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.530
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06314 Calendaring for a resource
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/101 Collaborative creation, e.g. joint development of products or services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/108 Remote banking, e.g. home banking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0204 Market segmentation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0215 Including financial accounts
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0265 Vehicular advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0271 Personalized advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0276 Advertisement creation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 : Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 : Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/06 : Asset management; Financial planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 : Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 : Accounting

Abstract

A personalized communication document pertaining to financial products or services is provided, including a method and system for preparing the same. The financial product and/or financial services are associated with a set of separate descriptions, characteristics and/or identifications, any one of which may be presented within a personalized content section of the personalized communication documents. The documents are generated automatically by a computing system such that different consumer entities can be provided with different personalized content for a particular product/service.

Claims

1. A method for automatically preparing customized communication documents for a plurality of consumer entities comprising:

using data from a first electronic data file containing financial product and/or financial service data for the customized communications, which financial product and/or financial service data includes a plurality of separate descriptions, characteristics and/or identifications for at least a first financial product and/or financial service;

using data from a second electronic data file containing customer information for each of the plurality of consumer entities, said customer information including customer related data in addition to, but not excluding, any one or more of customer name, customer address and customer account information obtained for said plurality of consumer entities;

performing an automated composition process using a computing system coupled to said first data file and second data file to compose an electronic document file representing a customized communication document for each consumer entity, said customized communication document comprising information relating to an offering for one or more financial products or services;

wherein at least some content included in said customized communication document is customized content generated by said computing system for said electronic file which includes additional variable data specifically for a consumer entity automatically derived and/or calculated from said first electronic data file and/or said second electronic data file during said automated composition process for said electronic file and said consumer entity;

delivering each customized communication document based on said electronic document file to a respective one of the plurality of consumer entities.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said first electronic data file and said second electronic data file comprise separate databases.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one of said first electronic data file and said second electronic data file are accessed remotely over a network by said computing system.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the electronic document file is produced into an electronically transmittable document or a paper document.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said customized content includes graphics.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said customized content includes variable placement of content within said customized communication such that said customized content can be placed in different locations for different ones of the plurality of consumer entities.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of separate descriptions, characteristics and/or identifications include separate respective word phrases.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said customized communication document includes a customized footnote section with one or more variable content footnotes which are associated with said at least first financial product and/or financial service, and such that first footnotes in a first customized communication document to a first consumer entity differ from second footnotes in a second customized communication document to a second consumer entity for such particular financial product.

9. The method of claim 1, further including steps:

providing compliance and/or regulatory information appropriate for each consumer entity as part of said customized content.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said compliance and/or regulatory information for such particular financial product or service can differ between first customized communication document to a first consumer entity and a second customized communication document to a second consumer entity.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said customized communication documents are prepared in groups corresponding to groupings by different consumer types and/or groupings by different financial product types or different plan types.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein successive customized communication documents can also pertain to two or more different products or services.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said variable data included in said customized content comprises at least one of textual components, alphanumeric components, and graphical components is varied between consumer entities.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said additional variable data further includes pricing information that is varied between consumer entities based on performing calculations pertinent to said consumer entities.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said additional variable data further includes non-pricing information that is varied between consumer entities based on performing calculations pertinent to said consumer entities.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein each customized communication document is a single page.

17. The method of claim 1 where each customized communication document is included along with a host document.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein each customized communication document is multiple pages.

19. The method of claim 1, further including a step:

selecting one or more delivery mediums that will be used to deliver the customized communication document to said consumer entity.

20. The method of claim 1, further selecting a first delivery medium that will be used to deliver the communication to said entity;

and selecting a second delivery medium that will be used to deliver a subsequent communication pertaining to said offer to said entity.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

using a format for said communication suitable for a delivery medium that is to be used to deliver said communication to said entity.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein said customized communication document includes a separate reply section with instructions informing a consumer entity on how to reply to said offering.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said separate reply section also includes customized content specific to said consumer entity.

24. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

automatically generating one or more subsequent customized communication documents to such consumer entity based on a set of predetermined criteria applied as a result of a reply or non-reply made by said consumer entity to said customized communication document.

25. The method of claim 1 further comprising automatically generating a communication for an entity based on one or more pre-defined events.

26. The method of claim 1 further comprising automatically generating one or more subsequent customized communication document to such consumer entity based on at least one of:

(a) information obtained in the past from a consumer entity;

(b) information purchased from a third party;

(c) information obtained via an existing consumer entity relationship.

27. The method of claim 1 wherein said customized content is determined for a consumer entity by a routine which analyzes personal data for each consumer entity and evaluates which of said plurality of descriptions, characteristics and/or identifications should be used in presenting said at least first financial product and/or financial service to such consumer entity.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least first financial product and/or financial service is selected from a plurality of separate financial products and/or financial services considered for each consumer entity.

29. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one customized communication document contains customized content that is adapted for two or more consumer entities identified for such customized communication document.

30. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting a subset of consumer entities from a database of available consumer entities; and

generating customized communication documents for only said selected subset of consumer entities.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein further comprising:

determining one or more financial products or financial services to offer to said consumer entity.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein customized communication documents are made available to consumer entities via at least one of (a)-(h):

(a) combining at last some of said communications with hosts;

(b) direct mail;

(c) platform sales track format;

(d) salespersons;

(e) an Internet website;

(f) email;

(g) voice response technology; and

(h) a print medium.

33. A method according to claim 1, wherein customized content specific to each of the consumer entities includes data that is shared by two or more consumer entities.

34. The method of claim 1, wherein all steps are controlled by a single automated process.

35. The method of claim 1, wherein said communication is delivered to said entity based on preference data provided by said entity.

36. The method of claim 1 further including a step:

generating successive customized communication documents for the plurality of consumer entities which can include different customized content with respect to at least said first financial product and/or financial service for different ones of said plurality of consumer entities.

37. A method for automatically preparing customized communications for a plurality of consumer entities comprising:

using data from a first electronic data file containing financial product and/or financial service data for the customized communications, which financial product and/or financial service data includes a plurality of separate descriptions, characteristics and/or identifications for at least a first financial product and/or financial service;

using data from a second electronic data file containing customer information for each of the plurality of consumer entities, said customer information including customer related data in addition to, but not excluding, any one or more of customer name, customer address and customer account information obtained for said plurality of consumer entities;

performing an automated composition process using one or more computing systems coupled to said first data file and second data file to compose an electronic document file representing a customized communication for each consumer entity;

wherein said customized communication includes an identifying section adapted to present identifying content to identify a consumer entity, and a separate customized section adapted to present at least some customized content relating to an offering for said consumer entity of said first financial product and/or financial service;

wherein at least some of said customized content included in said customized communication for said separate customized section is variable information that is determined for said consumer entity from said first data file and said second data file during creation of said electronic document file;

delivering said customized communication to said consumer entity based on said electronic document file.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein said identifying content includes at least one of a name, account number, address, age information and/or marital status information available for such consumer entity.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein said identifying content includes a common format and placement within each personalized communication document for said plurality of consumer entities.

40. The method of claim 37 wherein said customized content includes alternative text phrasings of said separate descriptions, characteristics and/or identifications for said at least a first financial product and/or financial service.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein said alternative text phrasings are selected based on demographic, psychographic and/or personal characteristics of said consumer entity.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein said alternative text phrasings are used to explain said at least a first financial product and/or financial service.

43. The method of claim 40 wherein said alternative text phrasings are used in footnotes.

44. The method of claim 37 wherein said customized content presented in said separate customized section includes at least some personal data associated with such consumer entity that is in addition to but does not exclude one or more of name, account number, address, age information and/or marital status information available for such consumer entity.

45. A method for automatically preparing specific communications with specific information data for a plurality of consumer entities, using a computing system and one or more associated databases, comprising the steps of:

providing a first electronic data file in a first database containing financial product and/or financial service data for the specific communications, which financial product and/or financial service data includes a plurality of separate descriptions, characteristics and/or identifications for at least a first financial product and/or financial service;

providing a second electronic data file in a second database containing customer information for each of the plurality of consumer entities, said customer information including customer related data in addition to any one or more of customer name, customer address and customer account number data obtained for said plurality of consumer entities;

using the computing system associated with said first database and second database to compose an electronic file representation of a specific communication for each consumer entity, said specific communication comprising information relating to an offering for one or more financial products or services being offered as part of a marketing campaign;

wherein at least some content included in said specific communication is content generated by said computing system during an automated composition process for said electronic file based on said financial product and/or financial service data and/or said customer related data obtained from said first electronic data file and/or second electronic data file; and

delivering each communication based on said electronic file to a respective one of the plurality of consumer entities.

46. A system for preparing personalized communication documents for a plurality of consumer entities comprising:

a computing system;

one or more electronic databases coupled to the computing system;

one or more software routines executing on the computing system which are adapted to;

i) process data from a first electronic data file in said one or more electronic databases containing financial product and/or financial service data for the customized communications, which financial product and/or financial service data includes a plurality of separate descriptions, characteristics and/or identifications for at least a first financial product and/or financial service;

ii) process data from a second electronic data file in said one or more electronic databases containing customer information for each of the plurality of consumer entities, said customer information including customer related data in addition to, but not excluding, any one or more of customer name, customer address and customer account information obtained for said plurality of consumer entities;

iii) perform an automated composition process to compose an electronic document file representing a customized communication document for each consumer entity, said customized communication document comprising information relating to an offering for one or more financial products or services;

wherein at least some content included in said customized communication document is customized content generated for said electronic file which includes additional variable data specifically for a consumer entity automatically derived and/or calculated from said first electronic data file and/or said second electronic data file during said automated composition process for said electronic file and said consumer entity.

47. A system for preparing personalized communication documents for a plurality of consumer entities comprising:

a computing system;

one or more electronic databases coupled to the computing system;

one or more software routines executing on the computing system which are adapted to;

i) process a first electronic data file in a first database containing financial product and/or financial service data for the specific communications, which financial product and/or financial service data includes a plurality of separate descriptions, characteristics and/or identifications for at least a first financial product and/or financial service;

ii) process a second electronic data file in a second database containing customer information for each of the plurality of consumer entities, said customer information including customer related data in addition to any customer name, customer address and customer account number data obtained for said plurality of consumer entities;

iii) cause said computing system to compose an electronic file representation of a specific communication for each consumer entity, said specific communication comprising information relating to an offering for one or more financial products or services being offered as part of a marketing campaign;

wherein at least some content included in said specific communication is content generated during an automated composition process for said electronic file based on said financial product and/or financial service data and/or said customer related data obtained from said first electronic data file and/or second electronic data file.

48. A system for preparing personalized communication documents for a plurality of consumer entities comprising:

a computing system;

one or more electronic databases coupled to the computing system;

one or more software routines executing on the computing system which are adapted to;

i) process data from a first electronic data file in said one or more electronic databases containing financial product and/or financial service data for the customized communications, which financial product and/or financial service data includes a plurality of separate descriptions, characteristics and/or identifications for at least a first financial product and/or financial service;

ii) process data from a second electronic data file in said one or more electronic databases containing customer information for each of the plurality of consumer entities, said customer information including customer related data in addition to, but not excluding, any one or more of customer name, customer address and customer account information obtained for said plurality of consumer entities;

iii) perform an automated composition process using said first data file and second data file to compose an electronic document file representing a customized communication for each consumer entity;

wherein said customized communication includes an identifying section adapted to present identifying content to identify a consumer entity, and a separate customized section adapted to present at least some customized content relating to an offering for said consumer entity of said first financial product and/or financial service;

further wherein at least some of said customized content included in said customized communication for said separate customized section is variable information that is determined for said consumer entity from said first data file and said second data file during creation of said electronic document file.