Patent · US Active

Service trial system and method for individuals and communities

US7751801B2 · kind B2 · utility

19Cited by
3References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateDec 28, 2005
Grant dateJul 6, 2010
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 7, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04M15/00
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Mobile wireless devices include a Service Trial Client that establishes a link to a Service Trial Server to set up temporary trials of online services. The Service Trial Client and Service Trial Server enable a service provider to attract potential customers with free trial subscriptions to an online service for a limited period of time. The trial subscription can be shared with friends of the customer for the limited period of time, thereby enabling the service provider to attract a larger number of potential customers. Monitoring logic is included in the Service Trial Server to review the record of each trial service subscriber on a periodic basis and to prompt the subscriber and the subscriber's friends to subscribe the service provider's normal paid-subscription service at the end of the trial period. The result is a complete over-the-air service trial and subscription tool that integrates discovery, trial and subscription functions for online services.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.