Patent Application
20100091465
1. Field of the Invention
The principles of the present invention relate to telecommunications, and more specifically, to improving customer retention by providing a modular customer premise equipment/telecommunication device.
2. Description of the Related Art
A customer premise equipment (CPE) is service provider equipment, such as, but not limited to, to telephones that are located on the customer's premises (i.e., physical location) rather than on the provider's premises or in between. Acquiring customer premise equipment, such as IP phones and analog phones, is a large investment for a company. When a company outgrows its existing telephone system, either as a result of the company increasing in size or as a result in the technology becoming outdated, the company must invest in an entirely new telephone system. For a telephone system provider, a customer's need to reinvest in a new telephone system provides an opportunity for the sale of a new system. However, the provider's competitors are afforded the same opportunity of selling a new system. In order to retain customers, the disclosed embodiments recognize that it would be beneficial to provide a telecommunication device, such as, but not limited to, a telephone that can be upgraded at a lower cost rather than replacing the entire system. Further, by replacing only a part of the telecommunication device, the environmental impact is reduced because fewer parts end up in the landfills.
The disclosed embodiments provide an apparatus and method for improving customer retention. In accordance with one embodiment, a telecommunication device comprising a chassis that includes features for operating the telecommunication device and a display module removably coupled to the chassis is presented. The chassis is compatible with different display modules. Thus, the disclosed embodiments enable a telecom customer to upgrade a telecommunication device at minimal cost, thereby, improving customer retention.
For a more complete understanding of the present application, the objects and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Almost all customer premise equipment is built on the same chassis with the only differentiator being the screen resolution and number of call appearances (or lines). The disclosed embodiments provide a customer with a modular CPE/telecommunication device that grows as the company grows. More particularly, in one embodiment, a telecommunication device is provided that includes a chassis and a display module that is coupled to the chassis. The display module is interchangeable with an upgraded and/or different display module.
In general, the upgraded display module may possess newer technology than a prior display module. Even if a company has not outgrown or undergone any major changes, the company may still desire to upgrade the company's telecommunication system in order to benefit from technological advancements in the telecommunications field.
In some embodiments, the upgraded display module may have a higher screen resolution than a prior display module. For example, the upgraded display module may possess a greater number of pixels on the display than a prior display module. Additionally or alternatively, the display of the upgraded display module may possess a greater number of colors than a prior display module. As another feature, the upgraded display module may possess video phone capability by incorporating a camera into the upgraded display module.
The upgraded display module may also be tailored to meet the needs of a company's expanded growth and/or enhanced sophistication. In certain embodiments, the upgraded display module may support a greater number of users and/or greater number of telephone lines than a prior display module.
The disclosed embodiments and advantages thereof are best understood by referring to
With reference now to
In some embodiments, chassis 110 includes one or more components and/or features associated with operating telecommunication device 100. For example, in one embodiment, telecommunication device 100 includes a handset receiver 102, a dial pad 104, and miscellaneous control features 106, such as, but not limited to, volume control, speakerphone, and a messages and/or contacts button. Additionally, in some embodiments, chassis 110 includes a release button 112 for enabling the removal of display module 120 from chassis 110. Release button 112 may be a push button, a slidable release/locking mechanism, and/or any other type of mechanism for releasing display module 120 from chassis 110. Further, in some embodiments, release button 112 may be found on display module 120. Moreover, in other embodiments, display module 120 may be removed from chassis 110 simply by pushing display module 120 away from chassis 110 without the use of a releasing mechanism.
In the disclosed embodiment, display module 120 includes a display 114, one or more line or speed dial buttons 116, soft keys 118, and navigation button 122. In some embodiments, display 114 is a liquid-crystal display (LCD) screen. Further, in some embodiments, display 114 displays a user interface that includes features, such as, but not limited to, the time, date, phone number, caller ID, line/call status and soft key tabs. Additionally, in some embodiments, display 114 includes touch screen capabilities to enable to a user to select options/features presented on display 114 by touching display 114 in the respective location.
Line or speed dial buttons 116 open a new line, speed dials a number on display 114, or ends a call. In the depicted embodiment, display module 120 has three line/speed dial buttons 116. As will be further described, in one embodiment, a consumer may update telecommunication device 100 with a different display module having a different number of line/speed dial buttons 116.
Soft keys 118 are one or more buttons, located alongside display 114, which enables a user to engage any of the functions (i.e., soft keys) displayed on the corresponding tabs displayed on display 114. In some embodiments, the displayed soft keys may change depending on the status of telecommunication device 100.
Navigation button 122 enables a user to scroll through text and/or select features displayed on the display module 120. In some embodiments, navigation button 120 may include four way navigational features to enable vertical and horizontal scrolling.
For example, as shown in
In some embodiments, chassis 110 may include one or more alignment guides 134 for properly aligning display module 120 into chassis 110. For example, in some embodiments, display module 120 may include alignment grooves 136 for engaging alignment guides 134 on chassis 110.
In addition, in some embodiments, chassis 110 may include a connector 140 for coupling chassis 110 with a connector 150 on display module 120. Connectors 140 and 150 may be any type of connector capable of electrically coupling chassis 110 to display module 120. For example, in some embodiments, display module 120 includes a female connector, such as, but not limited to, one of the many different types of small computer system interface (SCSI) connectors, and chassis 110 includes the corresponding male connector and/or vice versa. In other embodiments, chassis 110 and display module 120 may be coupled using a universal serial bus (USB) connection.
With reference now to
In the depicted embodiment, display module 160 includes six lines or speed dial buttons 162 for selecting a new line and/or an option/feature associated with the respective button as opposed to the three lines and/or speed dial buttons 116 as indicated in display module 120. Further, in some embodiments, display module 160 may provide an improved screen resolution over display module 120. Additionally, in some embodiments, display module 160 may provide additional color capabilities over display module 120. For example, in some embodiments, a consumer may upgrade from a black and white screen to a color screen. Of course, in some embodiments, display module 160 includes similar features as display module 120, such as, but not limited to, soft keys 118 and navigation button 122. However, in some embodiments, display module 160 may include additional soft keys 118, as depicted in display module 160.
Display module 170 depicts another embodiment of a display module that may be coupled to chassis 110. In the depicted embodiment, display module 170 includes three lines and/or speed dial buttons 172 located on one side and three lines and/or speed dial buttons 174 located on the other side. This particular configuration enables viewing and selecting menu option/feature items on a double column user interface display 176. In addition, in some embodiments, navigation button 122 may be circular to enable scrolling in all directions of items displayed by interface display 176. In some embodiments, display module 170 may include a camera 178 to for providing video phone capabilities.
Further, in some embodiments, display module 170 may be operable to function as a telecommunication device (e.g., make and receive calls) independent of chassis 110. For example, in some embodiments, display module 170 may include a separate power source (not depicted), such as, but not limited to, an internal rechargeable battery. Alternatively, in some embodiments, display module 170 may use disposable batteries and/or any other known power source.
Additionally, in some embodiments, display module 170 may include a wireless communication device 180, such as, but not limited to, a wireless Bluetooth® device capable of communicating with a wireless Bluetooth® headset. In addition, communication device 180 may include Wi-Fi capabilities. In these embodiments, a user may make/receive calls by using voice activation/recognition, entering a number using a touch screen keypad, and/or selecting a number displayed on display module 170, such as, but not limited to, a speed dial number or a number associated with user's contacts list stored in memory located within display module 170. In some embodiments, communication device 180 connects wirelessly to the Internet and using voice over IP technology, enables a user to make/receive calls. In addition, in some embodiments, display module 170 may include a microphone 182 and a speaker 184 to enable a user to communicate directly with display module 170 without the use of a headset.
Accordingly, the disclosed embodiments, present a modular telecommunication device, such as, but not limited to, a telephone, comprising of a chassis that includes features for operating the telecommunication device and a display module removably coupled to the chassis. The display module and/or chassis may be interchanged with other like components, such as, but not limited to, when an upgraded display module with newer technology becomes available and/or when the needs of a telecommunication customer changes and/or when one of the components malfunctions.
As a result, the disclosed embodiments improve customer retention by enabling a telecommunication customer to upgrade a telecommunication device at a minimal cost. For example, in one embodiment, as depicted in
Alternatively, in some embodiments, a service provider may reward loyal customers with an upgraded display module at step 716 and/or the telecommunication customer may receive an upgraded display module based a contractual condition between the telecommunication service provider and the telecommunication customer at step 718 (e.g., new upgrades every two years and/or new upgrades if usage charges exceed a specified amount, etc...). Further, improving customer retention. Moreover, the disclosed embodiments are environmentally friendly because less waste is produced from replacing old telecommunication systems, thus, companies that are concerned about the environment are more likely to remain with the same service provider and use the disclosed embodiments.
