Method and apparatus for facilitating electronic acquisition and maintenence of goods and services via the internet

Abstract

Internet acquisition of goods and services from multiple service providers is facilitated in a uniform, automated manner. Online service account facilitation systems and methods are contemplated that allow for intuitive, uniformly-structured representations of service offerings; straightforward, yet flexible, definition of service product markets; advantageous status designations for market offerings; flexible start date restriction rules; context sensitive information request forms, dynamic price determination on interactive comparison forms; flexible restriction rules for selection combinations of plans, packages, and features; creation of customized data elements; a powerfully advantageous ordering process; a discontinuation process; an inter-dependent order resolution feature; a hierarchical customization scheme; and / or centralized two-way communication between customers and service providers. In one embodiment, tenants of business or residential properties, may connect and disconnect utilities and / or purchase other goods and services electronically via the Internet from various service providers when moving into the property.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]Not applicable.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of Invention[0003]This invention relates to a method and apparatus for electronic acquisition and maintenance of goods and services via the Internet. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for customer acquisition and maintenance of goods and services from a plurality of service providers networked to an order facilitation service.[0004]2. Background of the Invention[0005]Many people recognize the benefits of “one-stop shopping”, such as may be found at a convenience store or shopping mall. The benefits may include reduced travel and improved ease of comparison. Merchants that offer one-stop shopping may consequently provide enhanced customer satisfaction and acquire more customers relative to merchants that do not offer one-stop shopping. Despite the recognized benefits of one-stop shopping, there exist circumstances where it is not offered. One ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011]The present invention provides a method and apparatus for acquisition and maintenance via the Internet of goods and services from multiple service providers in a uniform, automated and integrated manner. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, property tenants, such as residents of single or multi-family properties, may connect and disconnect utilities and / or purchase other goods and services electronically via the Internet from various service providers prior to moving in, upon moving in, and after moving in to the property. The utility and advantages of the present invention make it a highly desirable and commercially practicable mechanism for easy, quick and efficient acquisition and maintenance of goods and services by property tenants from a plurality of service providers.

[0014]The present invention further contemplates systems and methods that allow for straightforward, yet flexible, definition of service product markets; advantageous status designations for market offerings; flexible start date restriction rules; context sensitive information request forms, dynamic price determination on interactive comparison forms; flexible restriction rules for selection combinations of plans, packages, and features; creation of customized data elements; a powerfully advantageous ordering process; a discontinuation process; an inter-dependent order resolution feature; a hierarchical customization scheme; and / or centralized two-way communication between customers and service providers.

Problems solved by technology

Despite the recognized benefits of one-stop shopping, there exist circumstances where it is not offered.

Generally, this effort involves numerous telephone calls with substantial wait times and lengthy interviews with representatives of each service provider.

Furthermore, many service providers are unavailable during evenings, weekends and holidays.

There has been very limited “automated” help available to relocating tenants.

While such a service provides some assistance to a relocating tenant, it is limited to address changes and furthermore, it is limited to a particular type of service provider, namely credit card issuers or financial institutions.

Furthermore, there is no easy way to shop and compare such goods and services and be able to automatically and immediately place orders with the selected service provider, all from one common place.

While some online services enable comparison of products and services, such online merchants do not provide integration of the acquisition process in the manner and with the efficiencies of the present invention.

The above-described prior art methods and systems for acquisition and maintenance of goods and services by property tenants are inefficient.

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