METHODS AND APPARATUS TO PREDICT DEMAND FOR A PRODUCT OR SERVICE

• US 20060277130A1
• Filed: 04/25/2006
• Published: 12/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Ticket Reserve Incorporated
• Original Assignee: The Ticket Reserve Incorporated
• Inventors: Harmon, Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US11/380,186
• Publication Number:
  US 20060277130A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes

Abstract

Methods and apparatus to predict demand for a product or service (e.g., music concerts, toys, etc.) are disclosed. A futures market is opened for the particular good or service, and market data is generated. The producer of the product or service makes a production decision based on that market data.

Claims

1. A method of predicting demand, comprising:

receiving information defining a contingent event and a plurality of contingent event certificates associated with said contingent events;

facilitating transactions associating the plurality of contingent event certificates with a plurality of holders to produce market data indicative of demand for said contingent event;

selecting to produce at least one of a product or service based on the produced market data;

supplying each of a first subset of holders of contingent event certificates at least one of a product and a service associated with the contingent event certificate.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of paying a transaction fee.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of refunding at least a portion of fee collected from a plurality of holders of contingent event certificate.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of donating at least part of the fee collected to a charity.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein facilitating transactions associating the plurality of contingent event certificates with a plurality of holders further comprises the step of communicating said transactions over a computer network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein facilitating transactions associating the plurality of contingent event certificates with a plurality of holders further comprises the step of communicating said transactions through a representative of the plurality of holders.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

collecting information associated with said market data indicative of demand for said contingent event;

communicating information to at least one distributor of product or service associated with the contingent event.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein communicating information to at least one distributor of product or service associated with the contingent event further comprises the step of paying a transaction fee.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving information regarding travel and transportation associated with said contingent event certificate.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving information defining a contingent event further comprises the step of receiving said information regarding a location for the event.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving information defining a contingent event further comprises the step of receiving said information regarding a date for the event.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving information defining a contingent event further comprises the step of receiving said information regarding a type of event.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving information defining a contingent event further comprises the step of receiving said information regarding a combination of events.

14. The method of predicting demand, comprising:

receiving information from at least one registered user establishing a contingent event;

facilitating transactions associating the plurality of contingent event certificates with a plurality of holders to produce market data indicative of demand for said contingent event;

selecting to produce at least one of a product or service based on the produced market data;

supplying each of a first subset of holders of contingent event certificates at least one of a product and a service associated with the contingent event certificate.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein receiving information from a registered user establishing a contingent event further comprises the step of receiving information from multiple registered users establishing a contingent event.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of paying a transaction fee.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of refunding at least a portion of fee collected from a plurality of holders of contingent event certificate.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of donating at least part of the fee collected to a charity.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein facilitating transactions associating the plurality of contingent event certificates with a plurality of holders further comprises the step of communicating said transactions over a computer network.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein facilitating transactions associating the plurality of contingent event certificates with a plurality of holders further comprises the step of communicating said transactions through a representative of the exchange.

21. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

collecting information associated with said market data indicative of demand for said contingent event;

communicating information to at least one distributor of product or service associated with the contingent event.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein communicating information to at least one distributor of product or service associated with the contingent event further comprises the step of paying a transaction fee.

23. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of receiving information regarding travel and transportation associated with said contingent event certificate.

24. The method of claim 14, wherein establishing a contingent event further comprises the step of establishing a contingent event based on multiple registered users.

25. An apparatus for predicting demand, comprising:

means for receiving information defining a contingent event and a plurality of contingent event certificates associated with said contingent events;

means for facilitating transactions associating the plurality of contingent event certificates with a plurality of holders to produce market data indicative of demand for said contingent event;

means for selecting to produce at least one of a product or service based on the produced market data;

means for supplying each of a first subset of holders of contingent event certificates at least one of a product and a service associated with the contingent event certificate.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising the means for paying a transaction fee.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising the means for refunding at least a portion of fee collected from a plurality of holders of contingent event certificate.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising the means for donating at least part of the fee collected to a charity.

29. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein facilitating transactions associating the plurality of contingent event certificates with a plurality of holders further comprises the means for communicating said transactions over a computer network.

30. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein facilitating transactions associating the plurality of contingent event certificates with a plurality of holders further comprises the means for communicating said transactions through a representative of the plurality of holders.

31. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising:

means for collecting information associated with said market data indicative of demand for said contingent event;

means for communicating information to at least one distributor of product or service associated with the contingent event.

32. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein communicating information to at least one distributor of product or service associated with the contingent event further comprises the means for paying a transaction fee.

33. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising the means for receiving information regarding travel and transportation associated with said contingent event certificate.

34. A method of predicting demand, comprising:

receiving information from at least one registered user establishing an event;

facilitating transactions associating the plurality of contingent event certificates with a plurality of holders to produce market data indicative of demand for said contingent event;

selecting to produce at least one of a product or service based on the produced market data;

supplying each of a first subset of holders of contingent event certificates at least one of a product and a service associated with the contingent event certificate.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising the step of paying a transaction fee.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising the step of refunding at least a portion of fee collected from a plurality of holders of contingent event certificate.

37. The method of claim 35, further comprising the step of donating at least part of the fee collected to a charity.

38. The method of claim 34, wherein facilitating transactions associating the plurality of contingent event certificates with a plurality of holders further comprises the step of communicating said transactions over a computer network.

39. The method of claim 34, wherein facilitating transactions associating the plurality of contingent event certificates with a plurality of holders further comprises the step of communicating said transactions through a representative of the plurality of holders.

40. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

collecting information associated with said market data indicative of demand for said contingent event;

communicating information to at least one distributor of product or service associated with the contingent event.

41. The method of claim 34, wherein communicating information to at least one distributor of product or service associated with the contingent event further comprises the step of paying a transaction fee.

42. The method of claim 34, further comprising the step of receiving information regarding travel and transportation associated with said contingent event certificate.

43. The method of claim 34, wherein receiving information from at least one registered user establishing an event further comprises the step of receiving said information regarding a location for the event.

44. The method of claim 34, wherein receiving information from at least one registered user establishing an event further comprises the step of receiving said information regarding a date for the event.

45. The method of claim 34, wherein receiving information from at least one registered user establishing an event further comprises the step of receiving said information regarding a type of event.

46. The method of claim 34, wherein receiving information from at least one registered user establishing an event further comprises the step of receiving said information regarding a combination of events.