Patent ID: 8494918
Filing Date: 2013-07-23
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method, comprising: receiving usage data associated with a user from a server, wherein the usage data is received from an email, the usage data includes previous chargeable activity associated with the user, and the usage data is associated with a predetermined past billing period, and wherein the usage data is sent from the server via the email in response to a query by the user; displaying at least two offer schemes to the user, utilizing a user interface, comprising displaying a list including the at least two offer schemes, each offer scheme including an offer for one or more of a service and a product; receiving from the user, utilizing the user interface, a selection of a first offer scheme from the list including the at least two offer schemes; in response to receiving the selection of the first offer scheme from the list including the at least two offer schemes, applying the selected first offer scheme in the list to the usage data by inputting the usage data to the selected first offer scheme; displaying, in association with the selected first offer scheme, a result of the application of the selected first offer scheme to the usage data, wherein the result of the application of the selected first offer scheme includes a predicted charge for the previous chargeable activity under the selected first offer scheme; receiving from the user, utilizing the user interface, a selection of a second offer scheme from the list including the at least two offer schemes; in response to receiving the selection of the second offer scheme from the list including the at least two offer schemes, applying the selected second offer scheme in the list to the usage data by inputting the usage data to the selected second offer scheme; displaying, in association with the selected second offer scheme, a result of the application of the selected second offer scheme to the usage data, wherein the result of the application of the selected second offer scheme includes a predicted charge for the previous chargeable activity under the selected second offer scheme; receiving from the user, utilizing the user interface, a subsequent selection of the second offer scheme based on a result of the application of the selected second offer scheme to the usage data; and in response to receiving the subsequent selection of the second offer scheme, transmitting at least one billable element associated with the user to a service provider that provides the second offer scheme for use by the service provider in generating an invoice according to the second offer scheme using the at least one billable element; wherein the subsequent selection of the second offer scheme received from the user includes a commitment to the second offer scheme and an offer identifier associated with the second offer scheme, wherein the offer identifier is transmitted with the at least one billable element associated with the user to the service provider that provides the second offer scheme, and wherein the service provider that provides the second offer scheme utilizes the offer identifier to determine a rate of a future usage of the user, and produces charges based on the rate of the future usage of the user.