US 2003/0191657 A1Published application

System and method for modifying package service subscriptions online

AssigneesSBC Services, Inc., SBC Technology Resources, Inc.

InventorsMeredith Lyn McQuilkin, William Gerritt Demzik JR., Christopher Benjamin Bujanda

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Abstract

A disclosed method allows service subscribers to modify service subscriptions online. Operations within the method may include receiving an order for a service package from a subscriber, wherein the service package includes multiple features. In response to the order, the features in the service package may automatically be cross referenced with a list of existing features for the subscriber to detect any overlap between the features in the service package and the existing features. In response to detecting an overlap, a subscription change request may automatically be computed, wherein subscription change request includes only the features in the service package that do not overlap the existing features. The subscription change request may then be submitted for implementation by a service provider, possibly after receiving confirmation of the change request from the subscriber.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A data processing system that automatically validates on online request from a service subscriber to add a package of features to a service subscription, the data processing system comprising:

processing resources which, when executed, perform operations comprising:
causing a data item representing a service package to be displayed in a workstation for the subscriber, wherein the service package includes multiple features;
receiving identification information for the subscriber from the workstation via an Internet connection;
using the identification information to retrieve a list of subscribed features for the subscriber from a legacy system;
receiving input from the workstation indicating that the subscriber has selected the service package;
in response to the input from the workstation, automatically cross referencing the features in the selected service package with a list of one or more existing features for the subscriber to detect any overlap between the features in the selected service package and the one or more existing features, wherein the existing features include the subscribed features and any features listed in a shopping cart for the subscriber;
and
in response to detecting an overlap, automatically performing further operations including:
computing a subscription change request that includes only the features in the selected service package that do not overlap the existing features;
causing the workstation to list the existing features that also appear in the selected service package;
causing the workstation to provide an explanation that the subscriber will not be billed separately for the existing features that also appear in the selected service package;
causing the workstation to prompt the subscriber for confirmation of the subscription change request;
and
submitting the subscription change request to a legacy order processing system for implementation only if the subscriber confirms the subscription change request.

11 more elements

A program product that allows service subscribers to modify service subscriptions online, the program product comprising:

a computer-usable medium;
and
computer instruction encoded in the computer-usable medium, wherein the computer instructions perform operations comprising:
receiving an order for a service package from a subscriber, wherein the service package includes multiple features;
in response to the order, automatically cross referencing the features in the service package with a list of one or more existing features for the subscriber to detect any overlap between the features in the service package and the one or more existing features;
in response to detecting an overlap, automatically computing a subscription change request that includes only the features in the service package that do not overlap the existing features;
and
submitting the subscription change request for implementation by a service provider.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.