Reverse bidding for trip services

• US 20070050279A1
• Filed: 08/26/2005
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center, Inc. (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center, Inc. (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Liu, Juan, Calabria, Hermann, Huang, Qingfeng, Greene, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US11/213,107
• Publication Number:
  US 20070050279A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/37
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A method for reverse bidding of trip services among mobile communication devices. over a communication network is stored and executed as an application for use by network devices. The method includes specifying destination and selection criteria of a vehicle user and developing a trip specification based on the destination and selection criteria. Offers for services are solicited via transmission to an advertising service or directly from service providers, who have received the trip specification. When bids are received for the solicited offers, the trip specification is revised to accommodate the received bids. The revised trip specification is presented to the vehicle user for approval and use in navigating the approved route.

Claims

1. A method for reverse bidding of trip services among mobile communication devices over a communication network, the method stored and executed as an application for use by network devices, the method comprising:

specifying destination and selection criteria of a vehicle user;

soliciting offers for services via transmission to an advertising service or directly from service providers, wherein said advertising service or said service providers are provided said at least one trip specification;

receiving bids for said solicited offers from said service providers;

developing a revised trip specification to accommodate said received bids;

presenting at least one revised trip specification to said vehicle user for approval; and

navigating said approved route plan.

2. The method for reverse bidding of trip services among mobile communication devices according to claim 1, wherein said selection criteria include at least one member selected from the group consisting of quality of meals, accommodations, deadlines and degree of time sensitivity, interest in tourist highlights, driving speed, degree-of spontaneity, sensitivity to out-of-the-way travel, and weather conditions.

3. The method for reverse bidding of trip services among mobile communication devices according to claim 1, wherein said trip specification includes a set of potential route choices.

4. The method for reverse bidding of trip services among mobile communication devices according to claim 1, further comprising evaluating said bids to identify offers of interest based on said trip specification and selection criteria.

5. The method for reverse bidding of trip services among mobile communication devices according to claim 1, further comprising reporting said selected route to said service providers.

6. The method for reverse bidding of trip services among mobile communication devices according to claim 1, wherein said destination criteria include at least one member selected from the group consisting of destination, approximate time for arrival, approximate timing for meals, and desirable intermediate stops.

7. The method for reverse bidding of trip services among mobile communication devices according to claim 1, further comprising monitoring progress along said approved route plan.

8. The method for reverse bidding of trip services among mobile communication devices according to claim 1, further comprising reminding said vehicle user of approaching selected service stops.

9. The method for reverse bidding of trip services among mobile communication devices according to claim 1, further comprising reporting acceptance of said offers to said advertising service or said service providers.

10. A system for reverse bidding of trip services among mobile communication devices over a communication network, the system stored and executed as an application for use by network devices, the system comprising:

personal information and preference module for gathering personal information from a vehicle user;

destination specification module for providing information on destination and approximate time for arrival;

route planning module for developing at least one trip specification, modifying said at least one trip specification based on received bids for services, and developing at least one final trip specification, wherein said final trip specification includes at least one selected route;

presentation and approval interface module for presenting said final trip specification to said vehicle user for review;

solicitation module for developing bid requests for services based on said at least one trip specification and reviewing received bids for applicability to said at least one trip specification;

navigation module for providing navigation of said at least one selected route; and

communication module for communicating with advertising services and advertisers to request and receive bids for services.

11. The system for reverse bidding of trip services among mobile communication devices according to claim 10, wherein said personal information includes at least one member from the group consisting of desired quality of meals, accommodations, deadlines and degree of time sensitivity, interest in tourist highlights, driving speed, degree of spontaneity, sensitivity to out-of-the-way travel, and weather conditions.

12. The system for reverse bidding of trip services among mobile communication devices according to claim 10, wherein said information of destination further includes at least one member selected from the group consisting of destination, approximate time for arrival, approximate timing for meals, and desirable intermediate stops.

13. The system for reverse bidding of trip services among mobile communication devices according to claim 10, wherein developing at least one trip specification comprises selecting possible routes based on input received from said personal information and preference module and said destination specification module.

14. The system for reverse bidding of trip services among mobile communication devices according to claim 11, wherein reviewing said received bids for applicability includes comparing said received bids to said personal information and preferences.

15. The system for reverse bidding of trip services among mobile communication devices according to claim 10, wherein said navigation module further provides monitoring of said vehicle user'"'"'s progress along said at least one selected route.

16. The system for reverse bidding of trip services among mobile communication devices according to claim 10, wherein said final trip specification further includes identification of selected service stops and intermediate stops along said selected route based on input received from said personal information and preference module and said destination specification module.

17. The system for reverse bidding of trip services among mobile communication devices according to claim 10, wherein said navigation module further provides reminders to said vehicle user when said vehicle user approaches said selected service stops.

18. The system for reverse bidding of trip services among mobile communication devices according to claim 10, wherein said communication module further provides reporting of acceptance of offers to said advertisers or said advertising service.

19. The system for reverse bidding of trip services among mobile communication devices according to claim 18, wherein said communication module further provides apprising said advertisers or said advertising service of said vehicle user'"'"'s progress along said selected route.

20. A system for reverse bidding of trip services among mobile communication devices over a communication network, the system stored and executed as an application for use by network devices, the system comprising:

means for specifying destination and selection criteria of a vehicle user;

means for soliciting offers for services via transmission to an advertising service or directly from service providers, wherein said advertising service or said service providers are provided at least one trip specification;

means for receiving bids for said solicited offers from said service providers;

means for developing a revised trip specification to accommodate said received bids;

means for presenting said revised trip specification for approval; and

means for navigating said approved route plan.

21. A computer-readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied in said medium which, when said program code is executed by a computer causes said computer to perform method steps for method for reverse bidding of trip services among mobile communication devices over a communication network, said method comprising:

specifying destination and selection criteria of a vehicle user;

soliciting offers for services via transmission to an advertising service or directly from service providers, wherein said advertising service or said service providers are provided said at least one trip specification;

receiving bids for said solicited offers from said service providers;

developing a revised trip specification to accommodate said received bids;

presenting at least one revised trip specification to said vehicle user for approval; and

navigating said approved route plan.