Method for using computers to facilitate and control the creating of a plurality of functions

• US 20020156684A1
• Filed: 06/07/2002
• Published: 10/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lucinda Stone, Michael A. Dean
• Original Assignee: Lucinda Stone, Michael A. Dean
• Inventors: Dean, Michael A., Stone, Lucinda
• Granted Patent: US 6,873,969 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0214 Referral reward systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0276 Advertisement creation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

The present invention is a method and apparatus that allows competing as well as complementing suppliers, vendors, service providers, purveyors, and other types of sellers internal inventory management as well as controlled design and publication of presentations for external near real-time interactive access to buyer-centered presentation, sales, distribution, and confirmation systems as well as other traditional media advertising and outreach. The Automated Media Presentation Generator including a Publication and Placement Control Engine, integrates a Distributed Sales and Inventory Control structure with Processing and Communications Resource Saver, and further provides a Reservation, Access, and Verification System replacing traditional ticket and confirmation methods

Claims

24. ) A method for using computers to control sales and inventory while reducing required processing resources comprising;

a) setting of total available inventory;

b) setting of notification level of total available inventory;

c) establishing buffer inventory;

d) monitoring inventory levels;

e) notifying seller of sales;

f) allocating available inventory; and

g) preventing over allocation of inventory.

25. ) The method of claim 24 wherein communications allow for on-demand or on event transmission of information without the overhead of constant communications.

26. ) The method of claim 24 wherein on-demand transactions without confirming communications are allowed.

27. ) The method of claim 24 wherein a computer is used to monitor transactions and facilitate the allocation of inventory.

28. ) The method according to claim 24 wherein a seller of goods or services can control sales and inventory with reduced processing resources without being required to maintain constant communications with points of sale.