The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 25, 2014
Filed:
Oct. 04, 2011
Michael Hoch, San Francisco, CA (US);
Peter W. Stevenson, Burlingame, CA (US);
Kevin C. Dunn, Roseville, CA (US);
Michael Mills, Redwood City, CA (US);
Roger Bradley-jungemann, Half Moon Bay, CA (US);
Michael Hoch, San Francisco, CA (US);
Peter W. Stevenson, Burlingame, CA (US);
Kevin C. Dunn, Roseville, CA (US);
Michael Mills, Redwood City, CA (US);
Roger Bradley-Jungemann, Half Moon Bay, CA (US);
Navera, Inc., San Francisco, CA (US);
Abstract
The present invention employs branded virtual characters across multiple network platforms throughout various stages of complex transactions (eg, selling insurance). These characters initially engage prospective customers on a network platform, such as a social network, and persist over time across other network platforms (eg, university and company websites) to educate consumers until they are ready to purchase—e.g., from their 'trusted advisor'—particular products and services offered by various providers. An extensible configuration tool ('Config Tool') is provided to simplify the continued development of such a system, as well as customization of individual Product Modules (e.g., a Life Insurance Module) by product and service providers (e.g., insurance companies and employers) and other third-party developers (before and during runtime). This Config Tool provides a variety of extension points permitting virtual characters to be added and their appearance and behavior modified, along with the details of the products and services being offered.