US6597903B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Online churn reduction and loyalty system
Assignee: Unwired Planet LLC
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Filing: 2000-11-14
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Granted: 2003-07-22
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Expires: 2020-11-14
Abstract
Abstract A method and system are disclosed for providing subscriber loyalty and retention techniques. These techniques are suitable for mobile devices with small screens and limited keypad communication. This system and method allows mobile subscribers who have been identified as being likely candidates for churning, to efficiently, visually and interactively, review an offer for a mobile service plan better meeting the subscriber's needs. The subscriber can review and execute the offer using the display and interface of a mobile device.
Inventors
- 👤 Cynthia N. Dahm
- 👤 Andrew L. Laursen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 13:43
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W4/00; H04B; H04B7/00; H04B7/24; H04B7/26; H04M; H04M15/00; H04M15/80; H04M15/8083; H04M2215/00; H04M2215/01; H04M2215/0184; H04M2215/0192; H04M2215/32; H04W4/12; H04W8/00; H04W8/18; H04W88/00; H04W88/18; H04W88/182; H04W88/184
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
A method for providing an offer for a subscriber service plan on a display screen of a mobile device when a user of said mobile device is identified, said method comprising: comparing customer profile information of said user to a group of predetermined thresholds in a server device; wherein said customer profile information comprises information relating to a user account associated with said mobile device; wherein said server device is coupled to a wired network compliant with a first communication protocol; generating an offer for a subscriber service plan in said server device directed to the mobile device when said customer profile information exceeds at least one of said predetermined thresholds; and forwarding an electronic notification corresponding to said generated offer for said subscriber service plan to the mobile device through a wireless network compliant with a second communication protocol, said notification comprising at least one uniform resource identifier addressing resource information of said offer.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
155 words
A method for providing an offer for a subscriber service plan on a display screen of a mobile device when a user of said mobile device is identified, said method comprising: comparing customer profile information of said user to a group of predetermined thresholds in a server device; wherein said customer profile information comprises information relating to a user account associated with said mobile device; wherein said server device is coupled to a wired network compliant with a first communication protocol; generating an offer for a subscriber service plan in said server device directed to the mobile device when said customer profile information exceeds at least one of said predetermined thresholds; and forwarding an electronic notification corresponding to said generated offer for said subscriber service plan to the mobile device through a wireless network compliant with a second communication protocol, said notification comprising at least one uniform resource identifier addressing resource information of said offer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said wired network is one of the internet and a private network, and wherein said first communication protocol in said wired network is one of Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) family and said second communication protocol in said wireless network is one of wireless communication protocols.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said resource information of said offer is located in said server device coupled to said wired network.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein a proxy server couples said wired network to said wired network.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
73 words
A method as recited in claim 4 , wherein said proxy server comprises: an account manager managing a plurality of user accounts including the user account associated with said mobile device; and a mapper for mapping from said first communication protocol to said second communication protocol and from mapping said second communication protocol to said first communication protocol, so that said mobile device can communicate with said server device via said proxy server.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method as recited in claim 5 , wherein said forwarding of the notification corresponding to said generated offer comprises: forwarding the notification to said proxy server over said wired network; and delivering the notification by said proxy server to said mobile device following authentication by said account manager in said proxy server.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said method further comprises: receiving a request to fetch said resource information, said request being generated from said mobile device when said user responds to said notification; said request generated including said at least one uniform resource identifier; and releasing said resource information for delivery to said mobile device over said wireless network.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as recited in claim 7 , wherein said resource information is in a markup language.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said mobile device is selected from a group consisting of a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, a personal organizer, a two-way pager and an Internet appliance controller.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said customer profile information further includes at least one of air time use information by said mobile device, demographic information of said user, billing information of said user account and calling habit information of said user.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as recited in claim 10 , wherein said comparing customer profile information of said user to said group of predetermined thresholds comprises: receiving said customer profile information; and analyzing said customer profile information with respect to said group of predetermined thresholds.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method as recited in claim 11 , wherein said generating said offer for said subscriber service plan comprises: identifying said user account in accordance with said customer profile information when said customer profile information exceeds said group of predetermined thresholds; and preparing said source information of said offer; wherein said source information is identified by said user account.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising: storing in said server device said generated subscriber service plan, wherein said service plan is in a markup language.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said notification corresponding to said generated offer for said subscriber service plan comprises: a URL for said server device storing said generated subscriber service plan; and a short message relating to said generated offer for said subscriber service plan.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as recited in claim 14 , wherein said short message is in a markup language.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method as recited in claim 1 , still further comprising: retrieving from said mobile device responses corresponding to said offer for a subscriber service plan; and provisioning said mobile device in accordance with said mobile device responses, thereby changing said user account to reflect said provisioning of said mobile device.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
153 words
A system for providing an offer for a subscriber service plan on a display screen of a mobile device that includes an input interface, said system comprising: a storage device for storing customer profile information associated with a user account and a group of predetermined threshold values relating to said customer profile information; and a processor coupled to said storage device, said processor operates to compare said customer profile information to said predetermined threshold values; identify user accounts associated with said customer profile information that exceeds one or more of said group of predetermined threshold values; generate an offer for a subscriber service plan directed to mobile devices associated with said identified user accounts; and forward electronic notices relating to said generated subscriber service plan to mobile devices associated with said identified user accounts, said electronic notices comprising at least one uniform resource identifier addressing resource information of said generated subscriber service plan.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
153 words
A system for providing an offer for a subscriber service plan on a display screen of a mobile device that includes an input interface, said system comprising: a storage device for storing customer profile information associated with a user account and a group of predetermined threshold values relating to said customer profile information; and a processor coupled to said storage device, said processor operates to compare said customer profile information to said predetermined threshold values; identify user accounts associated with said customer profile information that exceeds one or more of said group of predetermined threshold values; generate an offer for a subscriber service plan directed to mobile devices associated with said identified user accounts; and forward electronic notices relating to said generated subscriber service plan to mobile devices associated with said identified user accounts, said electronic notices comprising at least one uniform resource identifier addressing resource information of said generated subscriber service plan.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
58 words
A system as recited in claim 17 , wherein said system is a server system that couples to said mobile devices through a proxy server, wherein said proxy server couples to said server system by a landnet compliant with a first communication protocol and couples to said mobile devices by an airnet compliant with a second communication protocol.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system as recited in claim 18 , wherein said first communication protocol for said landnet is Hypertext Transport Protocol (HTTP) over Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and said second communication protocol for said airnet is a wireless communications protocol.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system as recited in claim 19 , wherein said wireless communication protocol is selected from a group consisting of Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) and Handheld Device Transport Protocol (HDTP).
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-07-21 | 2007-01-20 | 2007-07-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-07-21 | 2011-01-20 | 2011-07-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-07-21 | 2015-01-20 | 2015-07-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |