METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING AND CONVERTING SALES OPPORTUNITIES

• US 20130179224A1
• Filed: 01/03/2013
• Published: 07/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Level 3 Communications LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Level 3 Communications LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Grippo, Rene, Nadiadi, Yunas, Farnsworth, Paul, Storey, Jeff, Rao, Ajit K., Gundersen, Eric D., Dixon, Allen E., Kumar, Sanjiv, Philips, Luke, Singh, Rajiv K., Cuttitta, Chris
• Granted Patent: US 10,489,806 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7.34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0205 Location or geographical consideration
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes

Abstract

Implementations of the present disclosure involve a system and/or method of displaying and reviewing prospective customers. The system and/or method may display a prospect map showing geographic areas, corresponding technical infrastructure, and prospects present in the areas. The prospect displayed may be adjusted based on user defined prospect attributes.

Claims

1. A system for identifying and efficiently navigating to a customer in a geographic area comprising:

a computing device including a processor coupled to a display and at least one memory, the memory storing instructions for execution on the processor, the instructions configured to cause the processor to;

generate a prospect map displaying;

a selected geographic area;

a technical infrastructure within the selected geographic area; and

at least one identifier of at least one specific customer located within the selected geographic area, wherein the at least one specific customer requires access to the technical infrastructure in order to receive a service, and wherein the at least one customer is displayed in accordance with a first prospect criteria.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one identifier comprises an identifier configured to display a color coded to indicate a projected value associated with the at least one customer obtaining the service.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first prospect criteria comprises an internal rate of return (IRR) projection based on the at least one customer obtaining the service, wherein the at least one identifier is displayed when the IRR projection meets an IRR threshold.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the identifier comprises an identifier configured to display a color coded identifier to indicate the IRR projection.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one identifier comprises an identifier configured to display a color coded identifier to indicate a cost to connect the customer to the technical infrastructure.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the technical infrastructure comprises telecommunications infrastructure and the services comprise telecommunication services.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one identifier comprises an identifier configured to indicate there is a contact information for the at least one specific customer associated with the at least one specific building.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising generating a prospect detail window overlaid on the prospect map and wherein the at least one identifier is selectable, the prospect detail window displayed when a user selects the selectable identifier, wherein the prospect detail window comprises at least one of:

a listing of the at least one tenant located at a location of at least one identifier of at least one specific customer;

an internal rate of return (IRR) projection for the at least one specific customer;

a capital cost value of extending the technical infrastructure to the location of the at least one specific customer;

a current monthly recurring revenue (MRR) of the at least one specific customer;

a potential MMR of the at least one specific customer;

a distance from the technical infrastructure of the location of at least one identifier of at least one specific customer;

an indication of whether the at least one specific customer is directly connected to the technical infrastructure; and

an indication of whether the at least one specific customer is indirectly connected to the technical infrastructure.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one customer is displayed in accordance with a first prospect criteria and a second prospect criteria, wherein the first prospect criteria comprises a minimum MMR and the second prospect criteria comprises a maximum MMR.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one customer is displayed in accordance with a first prospect criteria and a second prospect criteria, wherein the first prospect criteria comprises a minimum potential MMR and the second prospect criteria comprises a maximum potential MMR.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one customer is displayed in accordance with a first prospect criteria and a second prospect criteria, wherein the first prospect criteria comprises a minimum distance from the technical infrastructure and the second prospect criteria comprises a maximum distance from the technical infrastructure.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one customer is displayed in accordance with a first prospect criteria and a second prospect criteria, wherein the first prospect criteria comprises a minimum capital cost value and the second prospect criteria comprises a maximum capital cost value.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the first prospect criteria comprises a positive indication of whether the prospect is directly connected to the technical infrastructure.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the first prospect criteria comprises a positive indication of whether the prospect is indirectly connected to the technical infrastructure.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory comprises:

an external memory connected to the computing device via a network connection, wherein the external memory stores geographic data for displaying any selected geographic area, technical infrastructure data for displaying the technical infrastructure within the any selected geographic area, and a complete listing of identifiers for displaying at least one identifier of at least one specific customer located within the any selected geographic area;

a local memory located within the computing device, wherein the local memory caches a portion of the geographic data, a portion of the technical infrastructure data, and a portion of the complete listing of identifiers; and

wherein the cached portion of the geographic data, cached portion of portion of the technical infrastructure data, and cached portion of the complete listing of identifiers, are used to generate the prospect map.

16. A method for identifying and efficiently navigating to a customer in a geographic area comprising:

generating a prospect map displaying;

a selected geographic area;

a technical infrastructure within the selected geographic area; and

at least one identifier of at least one specific customer located within the selected geographic area, wherein the at least one specific customer requires access to the technical infrastructure in order to receive a service, and wherein the at least one customer is displayed in accordance with a first prospect criteria.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one identifier comprises an identifier configured to display a color coded to indicate a projected value associated with the at least one customer obtaining the service.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the first prospect criteria comprises an internal rate of return (IRR) projection based on the at least one customer obtaining the service, wherein the at least one identifier is displayed when the IRR projection meets an IRR threshold.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the identifier comprises an identifier configured to display a color coded identifier to indicate the IRR projection.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one identifier comprises an identifier configured to display a color coded identifier to indicate a cost to connect the customer to the technical infrastructure.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the technical infrastructure comprises telecommunications infrastructure and the services comprise telecommunication services.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one identifier comprises an identifier configured to indicate there is a contact information for the at least one specific customer associated with the at least one specific location.

23. The method of claim 16, further comprising generating a prospect detail window overlaid on the prospect map and wherein the at least one identifier is selectable, the prospect detail window displayed when a user selects the selectable identifier, wherein the prospect detail window comprises at least one of:

a listing of the at least one tenant located at a location of at least one identifier of at least one specific customer;

an internal rate of return (IRR) projection for the at least one specific customer;

a capital cost value of extending the technical infrastructure to the location of the at least one customer;

a current monthly recurring revenue (MRR) of the at least one specific customer;

a potential MMR of the at least one specific customer;

a distance from the technical infrastructure of the location of at least one identifier of at least one specific customer;

an indication of whether the at least one specific customer is directly connected to the technical infrastructure; and

an indication of whether the at least one specific customer is indirectly connected to the technical infrastructure.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the at least one customer is displayed in accordance with a first prospect criteria and a second prospect criteria, wherein the first prospect criteria comprises a minimum current MMR and the second prospect criteria comprises a maximum current MMR.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the at least one customer is displayed in accordance with a first prospect criteria and a second prospect criteria, wherein the first prospect criteria comprises a minimum potential MMR and the second prospect criteria comprises a maximum potential MMR.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the at least one customer is displayed in accordance with a first prospect criteria and a second prospect criteria, wherein the first prospect criteria comprises a minimum distance from the technical infrastructure and the second prospect criteria comprises a maximum distance from the technical infrastructure.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the at least one customer is displayed in accordance with a first prospect criteria and a second prospect criteria, wherein the first prospect criteria comprises a minimum capital cost value and the second prospect criteria comprises a maximum capital cost value.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein the first prospect criteria comprises a positive indication of whether the prospect is directly connected to the technical infrastructure.

29. The method of claim 23, wherein the first prospect criteria comprises a positive indication of whether the prospect is indirectly connected to the technical infrastructure.

30. The method of claim 23, wherein the at least one memory comprises:

an external memory connected to the computing device via a network connection, wherein the external memory stores geographic data for displaying any selected geographic area, technical infrastructure data for displaying the technical infrastructure within the any selected geographic area, and a complete listing of identifiers for displaying at least one identifier of at least one specific customer located within the any selected geographic area;

a local memory located within the computing device, wherein the local memory caches a portion of the geographic data, a portion of the technical infrastructure data, and a portion of the complete listing of identifiers; and

wherein the cached portion of the geographic data, cached portion of portion of the technical infrastructure data, and cached portion of the complete listing of identifiers, are used to generate the prospect map.

31. A system for identifying and efficiently navigating to a customer in a geographic area comprising:

a computing device including a processor coupled to a display, a local memory, and an external memory, the local memory storing instructions for execution on the processor, the instructions configured to cause the processor to;

generate a prospect map displaying;

a selected geographic area;

a technical infrastructure within the selected geographic area; and

at least one identifier of at least one specific customer located within the selected geographic area, wherein the at least one specific customer requires access to the technical infrastructure in order to receive a service, and wherein the at least one customer is displayed in accordance with a first prospect criteria;

wherein the external memory stores geographic data for displaying any selected geographic area, technical infrastructure data for displaying the technical infrastructure within the any selected geographic area, and a complete listing of identifiers for displaying at least one identifier of at least one specific customer located within the any selected geographic area;

wherein the local memory caches a portion of the geographic data, a portion of the technical infrastructure data, and a portion of the complete listing of identifiers; and

wherein the cached portion of the geographic data, cached portion of portion of the technical infrastructure data, and cached portion of the complete listing of identifiers, are used to generate the prospect map.