Personalized communication documents, system and method for preparing same

• US 7,890,366 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2006
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Phoenix Licensing, LLC
• Inventors: Libman, Richard Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): Alvarez; Raquel
• Application Number:
  US11/615,622
• Publication Number:
  US 20070150350A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,516 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14.17, 705/4, 705/14.25, 705/14.4, 705/14.49, 705/14.53, 229/70, 206/232
• US Class Current: 705/14.17
• 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 of preparing personalized communication documents for a plurality of consumer entities, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing financial product and/or financial service content for the personalized communication documents, which financial product and/or financial service content includes a first set of alternative descriptions, characteristics and/or identifications associated with at least a first financial product and/or financial service;

b) automatically preparing a personalized communication document for a plurality of consumer entities with a computing system, each personalized communication document including an identifying section adapted to present identifying content to identify a consumer entity from the plurality of consumer entities, and a separate personalized section adapted to present at least some personalized content relating to an offering for said consumer entity of said first financial product and/or financial service;

wherein said personalized content presented for said offering includes at least one or more of said first set of alternative descriptions, characteristics and/or identifications associated with said at least first financial product and/or financial service;

c) automatically generating successive personalized communication documents with said computing system, wherein at least one personalized section includes personalized content with respect to at least said first financial product and/or financial service different from a second personalized content prepared for a second consumer entity.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said personalized content presented in said personalized section includes at least some personal data associated with such consumer entity that is in addition to but does not exclude a name, account number, address, age information and/or marital status information available for such consumer entity.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein a placement of at least said personalized section on said personalized communication documents for said at least first financial product and/or financial service can be varied for different consumer entities.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said first set of separate descriptions, characteristics and/or identifications include separate respective word sentences.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said personalized communication document includes a personalized 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 personalized communication document to a first consumer entity differ from second footnotes in a second personalized communication document to a second consumer entity for such particular financial product.

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

delivering said personalized communication documents to at least one of the plurality of consumer entities.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said personalized communication document is provided as part of an ongoing service provided by a sender of such communication to said consumer entity.

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

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

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said compliance and/or regulatory information for such particular financial product or service can differ between first personalized communication document to a first consumer entity and a second personalized communication document to a second consumer entity.

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

11. The method of claim 1, wherein information included in said personalized section is varied between consumer entities.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said personalized content further includes pricing information that is varied between consumer entities.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein each personalized communication document is a single page.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein each personalized communication document is multiple pages.

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

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

16. 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.

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

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said separate reply section also includes personalized content specific to said consumer entity.

19. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

automatically generating one or more subsequent personalized communication document 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 personalized communication document.

20. The method of claim 1 further comprising automatically generating one or more subsequent personalized 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.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein said personalized content is determined for a consumer entity by a routine which analyzes personal data for each consumer entity and evaluates which of said first set of a 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.

22. 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.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein steps a) through c) are controlled by a single automated process.

24. The method of claim 1 wherein at least some of said personalized content is generated during a composition process for said personalized communication document.

25. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one personalized communication document contains personalized content that is adapted for two or more consumer entities identified within an identifying section of such personalized communication document.

26. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

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

performing steps (A), (B), and (C) for only said selected subset of consumer entities.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein step (B) further comprises:

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

28. A method of preparing personalized communication documents for a plurality of consumer entities, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing financial product and/or financial service content for the personalized communication documents, which financial product and/or financial service content includes a first set of descriptions, characteristics and/or identifications for at least a first financial product and/or financial service;

b) automatically preparing a personalized communication document for a plurality of consumer entities with a computing system, each personalized communication document comprising both a general offer portion and a personalized offer portion;

wherein said general offer portion includes general content communicated to the plurality of consumer entities for said at least a first financial product and/or financial service;

and further wherein said personalized offer portion includes personalized content for a specific consumer entity from the plurality of consumer entities including at least one or more of said first set of alternative descriptions, characteristics and/or identifications associated with said at least first financial product and/or financial service presented in the offering;

(c) generating successive personalized communication documents with said computing system, wherein at least one personalized offer portion includes personalized content with respect to at least said first financial product and/or financial service different from other personalized offer portions of said plurality of consumer entities.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein said general content includes at least one of a name, account number, address, age information and/or marital status information available for such consumer entity.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein said general content includes a common format and placement within each personalized communication document for said plurality of consumer entities.

31. The method of claim 28 wherein said alternative text phrasings are selected based on demographic, psychographic and/or personal characteristics of said consumer entity.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein said alternative text phrasings are used to explain said at least a first financial product and/or financial service.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein said alternative text phrasings are used in footnotes.

34. The method of claim 28, wherein placement of at least said personalized offer portion on said personalized communication documents for said at least first financial product and/or financial service can be varied for different consumer entities.

35. The method of claim 28, wherein said first set of alternative descriptions, characteristics and/or identifications include separate respective word sentences.

36. The method of claim 28, wherein said personalized communication document includes a personalized 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 personalized communication document to a first consumer entity differ from second footnotes in a second personalized communication document to a second consumer entity for such particular financial product.

37. The method of claim 28, further comprising a step of:

delivering each personalized communication document to a respective one of the plurality of consumer entities.

38. The method of claim 28, wherein said personalized communication document is provided as part of an ongoing service provided by a sender of such communication to said consumer entity.

39. The method of claim 28, further comprising steps of:

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

40. The method of claim 39, wherein said compliance and/or regulatory information for such particular financial product or service can differ between first personalized communication document to a first consumer entity and a second personalized communication document to a second consumer entity.

41. The method of claim 28, wherein said successive personalized communication documents can also pertain to two or more different products or services.

42. The method of claim 28, wherein information included in said personalized offer portion is varied between consumer entities.

43. The method of claim 28, wherein said personalized content further includes pricing information that is varied between consumer entities.

44. The method of claim 28, wherein each personalized communication document is generated in a single page.

45. The method of claim 28, wherein each personalized communication document is generated in multiple pages.

46. The method of claim 28, further comprising a step of:

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

47. The method of claim 28, further comprising a step of:

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

48. The method of claim 28, wherein said personalized communication document includes a separate reply section with instructions informing a consumer entity on how to reply to said offering.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein said separate reply section also includes personalized content specific to said consumer entity.

50. The method of claim 28, further comprising a step of:

automatically generating one or more subsequent personalized 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 personalized communication document.

51. The method of claim 28, further comprising a step of:

automatically generating one or more subsequent personalized communication documents 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; and

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

52. The method of claim 28, wherein said personalized content is determined for a consumer entity by a routine, which analyzes personal data for each consumer entity and evaluates which of said first set of a 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.

53. The method of claim 28, 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.

54. The method of claim 28, wherein steps a) through c) are controlled by a single automated process.

55. The method of claim 28, wherein at least some of said personalized content is generated during a composition process for said personalized communication document.

56. The method according to claim 28, wherein at least one personalized communication document contains personalized content that is adapted for two or more consumer entities identified within an identifying section of such personalized communication document.

57. The method of claim 28, further comprising a step of:

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

performing steps (a), (b), and (c) for only said selected subset of consumer entities.

58. The method of claim 28, wherein step (b) further comprises:

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

59. The method of claim 28, further comprising a step of:

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

60. A method of preparing customized communications containing information data specific to a plurality of consumer entities, by use of a computing system and one or more associated databases with information data, the method comprising the steps of:

providing data for the customized communications to the one or more associated databases, including financial product and/or financial service information, which financial product and/or financial service information data includes a plurality of distinct descriptions, characteristics and/or identifications for at least a first financial product and/or financial service;

automatically generating a customized communication for a plurality of consumer entities with a computing system, each customized communication containing information data specific to a consumer entity from the plurality of consumer entities, said customized communication comprising customized specific content for said consumer entity relating to an offering for one or more financial products and/or financial services;

wherein said customized specific content includes at least one or more of said plurality of distinct descriptions, characteristics and/or identifications associated with said at least first financial product and/or financial service presented in the offering, such that said computing system can automatically and without human intervention generate successive customized communications, wherein said customized specific content for at least one consumer entity is different from said customized specific content for another consumer entity; and

sending at least one customized communication to a respective one of the plurality of consumer entities.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein at least some of said associated databases are accessed over the Internet by the computing system.

62. The method of claim 60, wherein said specific content to the consumer entity includes alternative text phrasings of said separate descriptions, characteristics and/or identifications for said at least a first financial product and/or financial service.

63. The method of claim 62 wherein said alternative text phrasings are selected based on demographic, psychographic and/or personal characteristics of said consumer entity.

64. The method of claim 62, wherein said alternative text phrasings are used to explain said at least a first financial product and/or financial service.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein said alternative text phrasings are used in footnotes.

66. The method of claim 60, wherein a placement of said customized specific content on said customized specific communications for said at least first financial product and/or financial service can be varied for different consumer entities.

67. The method of claim 60, wherein said at least one or more of said plurality of separate descriptions, characteristics and/or identifications include separate respective word sentences.

68. The method of claim 60, wherein said customized specific communications include a personalized 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 specific communication to a first consumer entity differ from second footnotes in a second customized specific communication to a second consumer entity for such particular financial product.

69. The method of claim 60, wherein said customized specific communication is provided as part of an ongoing service provided by a sender of such communication to said consumer entity.

70. The method of claim 60, further including steps:

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

71. The method of claim 70, wherein said compliance and/or regulatory information for such particular financial product or service can differ between first customized specific communication to a first consumer entity and a second customized specific communication to a second consumer entity.

72. The method of claim 60, wherein said successive customized specific communications pertain to two or more different products or services.

73. The method of claim 60, wherein information included in said customized specific content is varied between consumer entities.

74. The method of claim 60, wherein said customized specific content further includes pricing information that is varied between consumer entities.

75. The method of claim 60, wherein each customized specific communication is generated in a single page.

76. The method of claim 60, wherein each customized specific communication is generated in multiple pages.

77. The method of claim 60, further comprising a step of:

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

78. The method of claim 60, further comprising a step of:

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

79. The method of claim 60, wherein said customized specific communication includes a separate reply section with instructions informing a consumer entity on how to reply to said offering.

80. The method of claim 79, wherein said separate reply section also includes customized specific content specific to said consumer entity.

81. The method of claim 60, further comprising a step of:

automatically generating one or more subsequent customized specific communications 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 specific communication.

82. The method of claim 60, further comprising a step of:

automatically generating one or more subsequent customized specific communications 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; and

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

83. The method of claim 60, wherein said customized specific 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.

84. The method of claim 60, 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.

85. The method of claim 60, wherein said providing, automatically generating and delivering steps are controlled by a single automated process.

86. The method of claim 60, wherein at least some of said customized specific content is generated during a composition process for said customized specific communication.

87. The method according to claim 60, wherein at least one customized specific communication contains customized specific content that is adapted for two or more consumer entities identified within an identifying section of such customized specific communication.

88. The method of claim 60, further comprising:

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

performing said automatically generating step for only said selected subset of consumer entities.

89. The method of claim 60, wherein said automatically generating step further comprises a step of:

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

90. 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;

a) retrieve financial product and/or financial service content for the personalized communication documents from said one or more electronic databases, which financial product and/or financial service content includes a first set of alternative descriptions, characteristics and/or identifications associated with at least a first financial product and/or financial service;

b) automatically prepare a personalized communication document for a plurality of consumer entities, said personalized communication document including an identifying section adapted to present identifying content to identify a consumer entity from the plurality of consumer entities, and a separate personalized section adapted to present at least some personalized content relating to an offering for said consumer entity of said first financial product and/or financial service;

wherein said personalized content presented for said offering includes at least one or more of said first set of alternative descriptions, characteristics and/or identifications associated with said at least first financial product and/or financial service;

c) automatically generate successive personalized communication documents, wherein at least one personalized section includes personalized content with respect to at least said first financial product and/or financial service different from a second personalized content prepared for a second consumer entity.

91. The system of claim 90, wherein a placement of at least said personalized section on said personalized communication documents for said at least first financial product and/or financial service can be varied for different consumer entities.

92. The system of claim 90, wherein said first set of alternative descriptions, characteristics and/or identifications include separate respective word sentences.

93. The system of claim 90, wherein said personalized communication document includes a personalized 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 personalized communication document to a first consumer entity differ from second footnotes in a second personalized communication document to a second consumer entity for such particular financial product.

94. The system of claim 90, further comprising a step of:

delivering each personalized communication document to a respective one of the plurality of consumer entities.

95. The system of claim 90, wherein said personalized communication document is provided as part of an ongoing service provided by a sender of such communication to said consumer entity.

96. The system of claim 90, further comprising steps of:

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

97. The system of claim 96, wherein said compliance and/or regulatory information for such particular financial product or service can differ between first personalized communication document to a first consumer entity and a second personalized communication document to a second consumer entity.

98. The system of claim 90, wherein said successive personalized communication documents can also pertain to two or more different products or services.

99. The system of claim 90, wherein information included in said personalized section is varied between consumer entities.

100. The system of claim 90, wherein said personalized content further includes pricing information that is varied between consumer entities.

101. The system of claim 90, wherein each personalized communication document is generated in a single page.

102. The system of claim 90, wherein each personalized communication document is generated in multiple pages.

103. The system of claim 90, further comprising a step of:

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

104. The system of claim 90, further comprising a step of:

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

105. The system of claim 90, wherein said personalized communication document includes a separate reply section with instructions informing a consumer entity on how to reply to said offering.

106. The system of claim 105, wherein said separate reply section also includes personalized content specific to said consumer entity.

107. The system of claim 90, further comprising a step of:

automatically generating one or more subsequent personalized communication document 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 personalized communication document.

108. The system of claim 90, further comprising a step of:

automatically generating one or more subsequent personalized communication documents 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; and

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

109. The system of claim 90, wherein said personalized content is determined for a consumer entity by a routine, which analyzes personal data for each consumer entity and evaluates which of said first set of a 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.

110. The system of claim 90, 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.

111. The system of claim 90, wherein at least some of said personalized content is generated during a composition process for said personalized communication document.

112. The system according to claim 90, wherein at least one personalized communication document contains personalized content that is adapted for two or more consumer entities identified within an identifying section of such personalized communication document.

113. 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;

a) provide financial product and/or financial service content for the personalized communication documents, which financial product and/or financial service content includes a first set of descriptions, characteristics and/or identifications for at least a first financial product and/or financial service;

b) automatically prepare a personalized communication document for at least certain of the plurality of consumer entities, each personalized communication document comprising both a general offer portion and a personalized offer portion;

wherein said general offer portion includes content communicated to the plurality of consumer entities for said at least a first financial product and/or financial service;

and further wherein said personalized offer portion includes personalized content for a specific consumer entity from the plurality of consumer entities including at least one or more of said first set of descriptions, characteristics and/or identifications associated with said at least first financial product and/or financial service presented in the offering;

(c) generate successive personalized communication documents includes personalized content with respect to at least said first financial product and/or financial service different from other personalized offer portions of said plurality of consumer entities.

114. A system for preparing customized communications containing information data specific to 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;

(a) provide data for the customized communications to the one or more electronic databases, including financial product and/or financial service information, which financial product and/or financial service information data includes a plurality of distinct descriptions, characteristics and/or identifications for at least a first financial product and/or financial service;

(b) automatically generate a customized communication for a plurality of consumer entities, each customized communication containing information data specific to a consumer entity from the plurality of consumer entities, said customized communication comprising customized specific content for said consumer entity relating to an offering for one or more financial products and/or financial services;

wherein said customized specific content includes at least one or more of said plurality of distinct descriptions, characteristics and/or identifications associated with said at least first financial product and/or financial service presented in the offering, such that said computing system can automatically and without human intervention generate successive customized communications, wherein said customized specific content for at least one consumer entity is different from said customized specific content for another consumer entity; and

(c) send at least one customized communication to a respective one of the plurality of consumer entities.