SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVISION OF MAINTENANCE INFORMATION AND PRODUCTS

• US 20090043629A1
• Filed: 08/07/2008
• Published: 02/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KAP Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: KAP Holdings, LLC
• Inventors: Price, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 8,095,403 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/8
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0204 Market segmentation

Abstract

A system and method are provided for the comprehensive provision of maintenance related information and products to a client. By one approach, item information is received from a client regarding at least one of a plurality of disparate items. The method also includes receiving manufacturer information regarding the plurality of disparate items from information from manufacturers of the items. A selectively accessible database is created that includes at least in part the item information, the manufacturer information, and maintenance information derived at least in part from the manufacturer information relating to servicing at least one of the disparate items and/or to a product relating to at least one of the disparate items. The client is provided with access to the maintenance information stored on the selectively accessible database. The maintenance information can be accessed from brick and mortar hardware stores as well.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving item information from a client regarding at least one of a plurality of disparate items;

receiving manufacturer information regarding the at least one of the plurality of disparate items from information from manufacturers of the items;

creating a selectively accessible database comprising at least in part the item information, the manufacturer information, and maintenance information derived at least in part from the manufacturer information relating to at least one of a group comprising servicing at least one of the disparate items and a product relating to at least one of the disparate items;

providing the client with access to the maintenance information stored on the selectively accessible database.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of receiving item information from the client regarding at least one of the plurality of disparate items further comprises receiving information provided from the client during a transaction.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of receiving item information from the client regarding at least one of the plurality of disparate items further comprises receiving information provided from the client during a transaction at a brick-and-mortar store.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of receiving manufacturer information regarding the at least one of the plurality of disparate items from information from manufacturers of the items further comprises connecting to at least one of a manufacturer database and a public database.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the maintenance information comprises at least one of a group comprising:

a suggestion for part replacement;

a suggestion for accessories;

information regarding item servicing;

information regarding typical use;

a calendar of when to purchase parts for the at least one disparate item;

a calendar of when to service the at least one disparate item;

information regarding brick-and-mortar stores having maintenance-related products;

information regarding delivery of parts;

information regarding automatic delivery of repetitive items;

information regarding repair services;

recall information for at least one of the disparate items;

information regarding add-ons for the disparate items.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising creating and storing a client profile for the client including client contact information and the maintenance information for the disparate items wherein the client profile further comprises at least one step selected from the group consisting of:

occasional maintenance requirements for the disparate items;

a repair schedule for at least one of a group comprising at least one of the disparate items and a replaceable part for at least one of the disparate items;

a replacement schedule for at least one of a group comprising the disparate items and a replaceable part for at least one of the disparate items;

replacement parts compatible with the disparate items.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing the client with access to the maintenance information stored on the selectively accessible database further comprises providing the client with access to the maintenance information stored on the selectively accessible database via a network connected to the selectively accessible database.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing the client with access to the maintenance information stored on the selectively accessible database further comprises contacting the client to provide the client with maintenance information.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein contacting the client to provide the client with maintenance information further comprises sending a message including periodic home maintenance information to the client including information relating to at least one of purchasing products available to meet maintenance needs for the client and providing scheduled maintenance reminders for the client.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of contacting the client to provide the client with maintenance information is automatically performed according to a schedule.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising creating and maintaining a database of suppliers of at least one of maintenance products and maintenance services available to the client for periodic maintenance.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising providing the client with selective access to the database of suppliers of maintenance products and maintenance services.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing to a brick-and-mortar store consideration-based access to the maintenance information stored on the selectively accessible database.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing to a real estate professional consideration-based access to the maintenance information stored on the selectively accessible database.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising offering for sale the product relating at least in part to the maintenance information.

16. A system for storing and providing maintenance related information comprising:

a manufacturer information database storing manufacturer information relating to maintenance of a plurality of disparate items;

a client database storing item information relating to disparate items of interest for at least one client;

a controller in communication with the manufacturer information database and the client database, the controller programmed to allow maintenance of information stored on the manufacturer information database and the client database and to allow selective access to the manufacturer information database for the at least one client.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the manufacturer information database is in communication with a manufacturer database to access information regarding items from the manufacturer.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the manufacturer information database is in communication with a public database to access information regarding at least one of the plurality of disparate items.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein the system is configured to connect to a network through which the selective access to the manufacturer information database is provided.

20. The system of claim 16 wherein the controller is programmed to send messages to the client including information relating to the plurality of disparate items.

21. A method comprising:

at a client'"'"'s network-based user interface;

providing item information regarding at least one of a plurality of disparate items to a remotely-located service provider which remotely-located service provider also receives manufacturer information regarding the at least one of the plurality of disparate items from information from manufacturers of the items;

accessing a selectively accessible database comprising at least in part the item information, the manufacturer information, and maintenance information derived at least in part from the manufacturer information relating to at least one of a group comprising servicing at least one of the disparate items and a product relating to at least one of the disparate items;

receiving from the selectively accessible database at least some of the maintenance information stored on the selectively accessible database.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the client'"'"'s network-based interface is located at a brick-and-mortar store.