Systems and methods for service provisioning of multiple dwelling units
OwnerGarry D. Blevinsinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for providing goods and services from one or more service providers to consumers, such as multiple dwelling unit (MDU) tenants are provided. In a first aspect, the invention provides a system for facilitating the provision of goods and services to a tenant of an MDU operated by an MDU operator. In one implementation, the system of the invention comprises at least one service provider that is configured to provide goods and services; an MDU tenant interface configured to communicate MDU tenant requests for goods and services to one of the MDU operator and the service provider; and a coordinating site configured to provide a provision interface operably connected to the service provider and the MDU tenant interface.
Claims19
A system for facilitating the provision of goods and services to a multiple dwelling unit (MDU) tenant of a network operated by an MDU operator, comprising:
- a. at least one service provider that is configured to provide goods and services in response to electronic requests for said goods and services;
- b. an MDU tenant interface located in at least one of said dwelling units, said MDU tenant interface being configured to communicate MDU tenant requests for goods and services to at least one of said MDU operator and said service provider;
- and
- c. a coordinating site that is configured to provide a provision interface operably connected to said service provider and said MDU tenant interface to enable said service provider and said MDU tenant to arrange for the provision of said goods and services,
- said coordinating site including at least one interface operatively connected to said MDU operator and said service provider, said interface system comprising a combination hardware system and software application providing at least one logical interface with said service provider, said coordinating site permitting the MDU operator to provide billing services on behalf of said service provider, said coordinating site including a provision event handler that interfaces with the at least one service provider, and further includes a component that posts provision events for the MDU operator to bill to MDU tenants.
A method for transacting services between one or more providers of goods and services and a multiple dwelling unit (MDU) tenant using at least one computing system operated by an MDU operator, comprising:
- providing an MDU tenant interface in at least one dwelling unit, said MDU tenant interface being configured to communicate MDU tenant requests for goods and services to said service provider;
- providing a coordinating site to coordinate the provision of at least one aspect of said goods and services between said service provider and said MDU tenant, and
- using said coordinating site to (a) provide at least one logical interface with said service provider that permits the MDU operator to provide billing services on behalf of said service provider, (b) at least in part handle pay-per-view provision events, and (c) post pay-per-view events for the MDU operator to bill to MDU tenants, whereby said MDU operator collects fees from MDU tenants for pay-per-view provision events and splits collected fees with the at least one service provider.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.