CUSTOMER-BASED PRODUCT DESIGN MODULE

• US 20100070345A1
• Filed: 11/12/2009
• Published: 03/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/1992
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lodsys LLC
• Original Assignee: Lodsys LLC
• Inventors: Abelow, Daniel H.
• Application Number:
  US12/617,449
• Publication Number:
  US 20100070345A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/101 Collaborative creation, e.g. joint development of products or services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0203 Market surveys; Market polls
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0245 Surveys
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

A network, including a product sub-system that interacts with a user, gathers information from the user, communicates the information to the product'"'"'s vendor, and receives new pre-programmed interactions from the vendor for future interactions with the user. The sub-system is in or attached to a product. Further components include a data processing system for constructing and downloading pre-programmed interactions to the product sub-system; a communications sub-system for transmitting the data from the product sub-system to the vendor'"'"'s computer; a communications apparatus for reading the product sub-system'"'"'s data, transmitting it to the vendor'"'"'s computer, and downloading new pre-programmed interactions to the product sub-system; a data processing system residing in the product sub-system and for conducting interactions with a user; and a data processing system residing in the vendor'"'"'s computer and for analyzing and reporting the information gathered from users.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a user interface configured to interact with a user of the unit and to probe for information regarding the user'"'"'s service needs of the apparatus;

a memory configured to store the information; and

an interface to transmit information to a remote server and to receive information from the remote server, the remote server being in communication with the apparatus.