US20020004757A1 — System and method of planning a funeral

Claim 1

Independent Claim 124 words

1 . A computer-implemented method for creating an online funeral plan, the method comprising: receiving user input from a user to obtain requested pricing information on a product or service offered by a selected funeral service provider among a plurality of funeral service providers; retrieving the requested pricing information by accessing a database storing pricing information associated with a plurality of products and services offered by the plurality of funeral service providers, wherein each funeral service provider is associated with a distinct set of products and services from the to plurality of products and services, and wherein the database maintains pricing information for the set of products and services associated with each funeral service provider; and outputting the requested pricing information to the user.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 124 words

1 . A computer-implemented method for creating an online funeral plan, the method comprising: receiving user input from a user to obtain requested pricing information on a product or service offered by a selected funeral service provider among a plurality of funeral service providers; retrieving the requested pricing information by accessing a database storing pricing information associated with a plurality of products and services offered by the plurality of funeral service providers, wherein each funeral service provider is associated with a distinct set of products and services from the to plurality of products and services, and wherein the database maintains pricing information for the set of products and services associated with each funeral service provider; and outputting the requested pricing information to the user.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 28 words

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising selecting a funeral service provider from the plurality of funeral service providers in response to the user input.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 33 words

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising selecting the funeral service provider based on criteria chosen from the group consisting of: location, services, products, capacity, pricing information, appearance and reputation.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 30 words

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving user input from the user to select a collection of products and services to include in the funeral plan.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 76 words

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein receiving user input from the user to select a collection of products and services to include in the funeral plan includes receiving user input associated with a budgetary parameter, the method further comprising suggesting a budget-based funeral plan from among a plurality of budget-based funeral plans based on the budgetary parameter, each budget-based funeral plan associated with a collection of goods and services meeting a budgetary criterion.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 76 words

6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein receiving user input from the user to select a collection of products and services to include in the funeral plan includes receiving user input associated with a profile parameter, the method further comprising suggesting a profile-based funeral plan from among a plurality of profile-based funeral plans based on the profile parameter, each profile-based funeral plan associated with a collection of goods and services meeting a profile criterion.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 78 words

7 . The method of claim 4 , wherein receiving user input from the user to select a collection of products and services to include in the funeral plan includes receiving user input associated with a step-based parameter, the method further comprising suggesting a tailored funeral plan from among a plurality of step-based funeral plans based on the step-based parameter, each step-based funeral plan associated with a collection of goods, services and educational data meeting a step-based criterion.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 35 words

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising processing funding of the funeral plan using a payment method selected from the group consisting of: an electronic debit, credit card, insurance, or trust fund.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 33 words

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising personalizing aspects of the funeral plan to reflect a religious, professional, personal, or ethnic desire of a deceased in response to user input.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 29 words

10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing contact information of a family member, friend or associate of the user for notification of a decedent's death.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 18 words

11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising electronically storing the funeral plan for later retrieval.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 22 words

12 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising initiating the electronic display of the funeral plan on a web site.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 19 words

13 . The method or claim 1 , further comprising modifying the funeral plan in response to user input.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 43 words

14 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising directing user input to a web site, and communicating the pricing information for a products or service to the user via the web site, wherein the pricing information is retrieved from the database.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 39 words

15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pricing of a product or service is guaranteed, the method further comprising initiating a display to the user of an electronic image or text representing terms of the guarantee.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 25 words

16 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising initiating the display of an image representative of the product or service to a user.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 23 words

17 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising scheduling a meeting with a death care professional in response to user input.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 29 words

18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising initiating the display of contact information to the user enabling personal or electronic communication with the death care professional.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 21 words

19 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising retrieving an estimated cost from the database for a non-guaranteed item.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 29 words

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the non-guaranteed item is selected from the group consisting of: a floral arrangement, musical performance, clergy, transportation and honorarium costs.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 27 words

21 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising storing a currency value indicative of client funds that are budgeted to pay for the non-guaranteed item.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 15 words

22 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing information related to donations.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 24 words

23 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising initiating the display of a payment status of the funeral plan to the user.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 26 words

24 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pricing information includes bids from at least a subset of the plurality of funeral service providers.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 40 words

25 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising relating an offer for the product or service from the user to at least a subset of the plurality of funeral service providers, wherein the offer includes a price range.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 36 words

26 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising associating and recommending to the user a complementary item from the plurality of products and services in response to the user selecting the product or service.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 26 words

27 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising initiating the display of educational information, counseling and Internet links related to the product or service.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 26 words

28 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising verifying the availability of the product or service from among the plurality of funeral service providers.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 24 words

29 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising encrypting user data and funeral plan information in conjunction with creating the funeral plan.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 128 words

30 . An apparatus, comprising: a memory; a database resident in the memory, the database storing pricing information associated with a plurality of products and services offered by a plurality of funeral service providers, wherein each funeral service provider is associated with a distinct set of products and services from the plurality of products and services, wherein the database maintains pricing information for the set of products and services associated with each funeral service provider; and a program configured to receive user input from a user to obtain requested pricing information on a product or service offered by a selected funeral service provider among the plurality of funeral service providers, access the database to retrieve the requested pricing information, and output the requested pricing information to the user.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 128 words

30 . An apparatus, comprising: a memory; a database resident in the memory, the database storing pricing information associated with a plurality of products and services offered by a plurality of funeral service providers, wherein each funeral service provider is associated with a distinct set of products and services from the plurality of products and services, wherein the database maintains pricing information for the set of products and services associated with each funeral service provider; and a program configured to receive user input from a user to obtain requested pricing information on a product or service offered by a selected funeral service provider among the plurality of funeral service providers, access the database to retrieve the requested pricing information, and output the requested pricing information to the user.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 34 words

31 . The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein the program is configured to recommend a funeral service provider from the plurality of funeral service providers to the user in response to user input.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 37 words

32 . The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein the program is configured to recommend the funeral service provider based on criteria chosen from the group consisting of: location, services, products, capacity, pricing information, appearance and reputation.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 31 words

33 . The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein the program is configured to receive user input to select a collection of products and services to include in the funeral plan.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 83 words

34 . The apparatus of claim 33 , wherein the program is configured to receive user input to select a collection of products and services to include in the funeral plan, wherein the program receives user input associated with a budgetary parameter, wherein the program is further configured to suggest a budget-based funeral plan from among a plurality of budget-based funeral plans based on the budgetary parameter, each budget-based funeral plan associated with a collection of goods and services meeting a budgetary criterion.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 83 words

35 . The apparatus of claim 33 , wherein the program is configured to receive user input to select a collection of products and services to include in the funeral plan, wherein the program receives user input associated with a profile parameter, wherein the program is further configured to suggest a profile-based funeral plan from among a plurality of profile-based funeral plans based on the profile parameter, each profile-based funeral plan associated with a collection of goods and services meeting a profile criterion.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 85 words

36 . The apparatus of claim 33 , wherein the program is configured to receive user input to select a collection of products and services to include in the funeral plan, wherein the program receives user input associated with a step-based parameter, wherein the program is further configured to suggest a step-based funeral plan from among a plurality of step-based funeral plans based on the step-based parameter, each step-based funeral plan associated with a collection of goods, services and educational data meeting a step-based criterion.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 37 words

37 . The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein the program processes the funding of the funeral plan using a payment method selected from the group consisting of: an electronic debit, credit card, insurance, or trust fund.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 37 words

38 . The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein the program is configured to personalize aspects of the funeral plan to reflect a religious, professional, personal, or ethnic desire of a deceased in response to user input.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 33 words

39 . The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein the program is configured to store contact information for a family member, friend or associate of a user for notification of a decedent's death.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 22 words

40 . The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein the program is configured to electronically store the funeral plan for later retrieval.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 24 words

41 . The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein the program is configured to initiate the display of funeral plan on a web site.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 23 words

42 . The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein the program is configured to modify the funeral plan in response to user input.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 51 words

43 . The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein user input is directed to a web site, wherein retrieval of the product or service from the database is accomplished through the web site, wherein the program comprises a web server configured to interact with the user and interface with the database.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 37 words

44 . The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein the pricing of the service or product is guaranteed, wherein the program is configured to initiate the display of an image or text representing terms of the guarantee.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 27 words

45 . The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein the program is configured to initiate a display of an electronic image representative of the product or service.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 27 words

46 . The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein the program is configured to schedule a meeting with a death care professional in response to user input.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 35 words

47 . The apparatus of claim 46 , wherein the program is configured to initiate the display of contact information that enables the user to communicate personally or electronically with a funeral service provider representative.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 25 words

48 . The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein the program is configured to retrieve an estimated cost for a non-guaranteed item from the database.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 45 words

49 . The apparatus of claim 48 , wherein the program is configured to retrieve an estimated cost from the database for a non-guaranteed item, wherein the non-guaranteed item is selected from the group consisting of: floral arrangement, musical performance, clergy, transportation and honorarium costs.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 27 words

50 . The apparatus of claim 48 , wherein the program is configured to store a currency value indicative of client funds budgeted for the non-guaranteed item.

Claim 53

Dependent Claim 17 words

51 . The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein the program is configured to store donation information.

Claim 54

Dependent Claim 23 words

52 . The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein the program is configured to initiate a payment status display for the funeral plan.

Claim 55

Dependent Claim 26 words

53 . The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein the pricing information includes bids from at least a subset of the plurality of funeral service providers.

Claim 56

Dependent Claim 44 words

54 . The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein the program is configured to relate an offer for the product or service from the user to at least a subset of the plurality of funeral service providers, wherein the offer includes a price range.

Claim 57

Dependent Claim 34 words

55 . The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein the program associates and recommends a complementary item from the plurality of products and services in response to a user selecting the product or service.

Claim 58

Dependent Claim 31 words

56 . The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein the program is configured to provide to the user educational information, counseling and an Internet link relating to the product or service.

Claim 59

Dependent Claim 21 words

57 . The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein the program is configured to verify availability of the product or service.

Claim 60

Dependent Claim 28 words

58 . The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein the program is configured to encrypt user data and funeral plan information in conjunction with creating a funeral plan.

Claim 61

Dependent Claim 127 words

59 . A program product, comprising: a program configured to receive user input from a user to obtain requested pricing information on a product or service offered by a selected funeral service provider among a plurality of funeral service providers; retrieve the requested pricing information by accessing a database storing pricing information associated with a plurality of products and services offered by the plurality of funeral service providers, wherein each funeral service provider is associated with a distinct set of products and services from the plurality of products and services, and wherein the database maintains pricing information for the set of products and services associated with each funeral service provider; and output the requested pricing information to the user; and a signal bearing medium bearing the program.

Claim 62

Dependent Claim 127 words

59 . A program product, comprising: a program configured to receive user input from a user to obtain requested pricing information on a product or service offered by a selected funeral service provider among a plurality of funeral service providers; retrieve the requested pricing information by accessing a database storing pricing information associated with a plurality of products and services offered by the plurality of funeral service providers, wherein each funeral service provider is associated with a distinct set of products and services from the plurality of products and services, and wherein the database maintains pricing information for the set of products and services associated with each funeral service provider; and output the requested pricing information to the user; and a signal bearing medium bearing the program.

Claim 63

Dependent Claim 18 words

60 . The program product of claim 59 , wherein the signal bearing medium includes a recordable medium.

Claim 64

Dependent Claim 39 words

61 . The program product of claim 60 , wherein the recordable medium is selected from among the group comprising a volatile memory device, a non-volatile memory device, a removable disk, a hard disk drive and an optical disk.

Claim 65

Dependent Claim 21 words

62 . The program product of claim 60 , wherein the recordable medium resides on a hardware system of the user.

Claim 66

Dependent Claim 19 words

63 . The program product of claim 59 , wherein the signal bearing medium includes a transmission type medium.

Claim 67

Dependent Claim 26 words

64 . The program product of claim 63 , wherein the transmission type medium is selected from among the group comprising web-based, digital and analog links.

Claim 68

Dependent Claim 75 words

65 . A computer-implemented method for creating an online funeral plan, the method comprising: interacting with a user via a selected funeral service provider web site among a plurality of funeral service provider web sites; forwarding user input from a selected funeral service provider web site to a central database associated with the plurality of funeral service provider web sites to retrieve product and/or service information associated with a product or service from the database.

Claim 69

Dependent Claim 75 words

65 . A computer-implemented method for creating an online funeral plan, the method comprising: interacting with a user via a selected funeral service provider web site among a plurality of funeral service provider web sites; forwarding user input from a selected funeral service provider web site to a central database associated with the plurality of funeral service provider web sites to retrieve product and/or service information associated with a product or service from the database.

Claim 70

Dependent Claim 63 words

66 . The method of claim 65 , further comprising allowing retrieval of product and/or service information from the database in response to interaction with a user via the selected funeral service provider web site to only a subset of the database that corresponds to products and services offered by a funeral service provider associated with the selected funeral service provider web site.

Claim 71

Dependent Claim 102 words

67 . An apparatus for creating an online funeral plan, comprising: a program configured to interface with a plurality of funeral service provider web sites; and a central database coupled to the program and configured to store information associated with a plurality of products and services; wherein the program is configured to forward user input from a selected funeral service provider web site from the plurality of funeral service provider web sites to the central database to retrieve information associated with a product or service from the database in response to user input directed to the selected funeral service provider web site.

Claim 72

Dependent Claim 102 words

67 . An apparatus for creating an online funeral plan, comprising: a program configured to interface with a plurality of funeral service provider web sites; and a central database coupled to the program and configured to store information associated with a plurality of products and services; wherein the program is configured to forward user input from a selected funeral service provider web site from the plurality of funeral service provider web sites to the central database to retrieve information associated with a product or service from the database in response to user input directed to the selected funeral service provider web site.

Claim 73

Dependent Claim 64 words

68 . The apparatus of claim 67 , wherein the program is configured to allow retrieval of information from the database in response to interaction with a user via the selected funeral service provider web site to only a subset of the database that corresponds to products and services offered by a funeral service provider associated with the selected funeral service provider web site.

Claim 74

Dependent Claim 74 words

69 . A computer-implemented method for creating an online funeral plan that adheres to a theme, the method comprising: selecting a thematic grouping among a plurality of thematic groupings from a database based upon theme-related input received from a user, wherein each thematic grouping comprises a collection of a product and/or services related to a distinct theme; and outputting information for a product or service associated with the selected thematic grouping to the user.

Claim 75

Dependent Claim 74 words

69 . A computer-implemented method for creating an online funeral plan that adheres to a theme, the method comprising: selecting a thematic grouping among a plurality of thematic groupings from a database based upon theme-related input received from a user, wherein each thematic grouping comprises a collection of a product and/or services related to a distinct theme; and outputting information for a product or service associated with the selected thematic grouping to the user.

System and method of planning a funeral

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