System for concurrent optimization of business economics and customer value

• US 20070244767A1
• Filed: 08/18/2006
• Published: 10/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tenon & Groove LLC
• Original Assignee: Sachin Goel
• Inventors: Goel, Sachin
• Granted Patent: US 7,424,449 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/025 Coordination of plural reservations, e.g. plural trip segments, transportation combined with accommodation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0244 Optimization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0617 Representative agent
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

A computer-implemented system and method to provide options on products to enhance customers'"'"' experience. A computer-implemented system is operated that delivers to a customer an option to utilize up to n of m selected products, where m and n are whole numbers and n is less than or equal to m. Information is recorded in a data store, pertaining to said option. In addition, a system is operated to define each of the n chosen products, whereby after each of the n chosen products is defined, the customer can utilize said chosen product. The information pertaining to said defined products is recorded in a data store.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented system to provide options on products, comprising:

a. a data store containing data representing, with respect to at least one product, at least one option offered by a company;

b. a data processor being adapted to deliver to a customer an option to utilize up to n of m selected products,

i. where,

1. m and n are whole numbers and

2. n<

m;

c. a data processor being adapted to receive at least one input to define each of said n chosen products, whereby after each of said n chosen products is defined, said customer can utilize said chosen product; and

d. a data processor being adapted to record the information pertaining to said defined products in a data store.

2. A computer-implemented method to provide options on products to enhance customers'"'"' experience, comprising:

a. providing a data store containing data representing, with respect to at least one product, at least one option offered by a company;

b. operating a computer-implemented system that delivers to a customer an option to utilize up to n of m selected products,

i. where,

1. m and n are whole numbers and

2. n<

m;

c. operating a system to define each of said n chosen products, whereby after each of said n chosen products is defined, said customer can utilize said chosen product; and

d. recording the information pertaining to said defined products in a data store.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said company is an airline.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said company is a seller of at least said product.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein said company is not the seller of said product.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein said company includes more than one entity.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein operating the system to define products includes said company defining, at one or more times, at least one of said n products.

8. The method of claim 2 wherein operating the system to define products includes said customer defining, at one or more times, at least one of said n products.

9. The method of claim 2 wherein said company operates at least one of said systems.

10. The method of claim 2 wherein delivering a said option occurs in relation to a customer purchasing at least one product other than the product for which an option is delivered.

11. The method of claim 2 wherein said m products are selected in more than one transaction.

12. The method of claim 2 wherein said n products are defined in at least one transaction.

13. The method of claim 2 wherein said company receives from said customer, at one or more times, an indication of one or more terms and conditions associated with said option.

14. The method of claim 2 wherein at least one of said company or an entity other than said company delivers to said customer, at one or more times, one or more terms and conditions associated with said option.

15. The method of claim 2 wherein no payment transaction is executed between said company and said customer in connection with said option and said selected products.

16. The method of claim 2 wherein at least one payment transaction is executed between said company and said customer.

17. The method of claim 2 wherein said option does not include a notification deadline condition.

18. The method of claim 2 wherein said option includes at least one notification deadline condition.

19. The method of claim 2 wherein at least one of said m products is available for use by said company at least after the delivery of said option.

20. The method of claim 2 wherein said customer receives said option included in a product price that does not separately identify a price for the inclusion of said option within the total product price.

21. The method of claim 2 wherein at least said company identifies to said customer at least one eligible product for said option and allows said customer to select at least one of said m products from the eligible products.

22. The method of claim 2 wherein said company selects at least one of said m products for said customer.

23. The method of claim 2 wherein said company allocates at least one product to at least one entity other than said company, and said entity delivers said option on at least one of said allocated products.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein said entity sells back at least one allocated product to said company or to at least one entity other than the company or both.

25. The method of claim 2 wherein said systems may be same.

26. The method of claim 2 wherein said n chosen products includes at least one product other than said m products.

27. A computer-implemented method to provide options on products to enhance customers'"'"' experience, comprising:

a. operating a computer-implemented system that delivers a first option to at least a first customer to utilize up to n of m selected products for said first customer, where

i. m and n are whole numbers, and

ii. n<

=m;

b. operating a computer-implemented system that delivers a second option to at least a second customer to utilize up to k of p selected products, where

i. k and p are whole numbers, and

ii. k<

=p;

c. recording the information pertaining to said options in a data store;

d. operating a system to define each of the k chosen products, whereby after each of the k chosen products is defined, said second customer can utilize said chosen product;

e. operating a system wherein a company defines t chosen product(s) for said first customer after each of the said k chosen products is defined, comprising;

i. after each of said t products is defined, said first customer can utilize said defined product, where t is a whole number less than or equal to n; and

f. recording the information pertaining to said defined products in a data store.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein said company is an airline.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein said company is not the seller of any of said products.

30. The method of claim 27 wherein said company offers at least one of said options.

31. The method of claim 27 wherein said company operates at least one of said systems.

32. The method of claim 27 wherein at least one entity other than said company operates at least one of said systems.

33. The method of claim 27 wherein said services for first and second options operate independently.

34. The method of claim 27 wherein said services for first and second options operate in conjunction with each other.

35. The method of claim 27 wherein acts a-to-f are performed for a multiplicity of at least one of said first or second customers and further including combining together at least one of each of said first and second customers to formulate at least one group with at least one complementary set of options.

36. The method of claim 27 wherein at least one of said m or p products is available for use by said company at least after delivery of any of said first or second options.

37. The method of claim 27 wherein operating the system to define said k chosen products includes at least one of said company or an entity other than said company defining, at one or more times, at least one of said k chosen products.

38. The method of claim 27 wherein operating the system to define said chosen k products includes said second customer defining, at one or more times, at least one of said k chosen products.

39. The method of claim 27 wherein at least one of said company or an entity other than said company selects, at one or more times, at least one of said m or p products.

40. The method of claim 27 wherein said first customer selects, at one or more times, at least one of said m products.

41. The method of claim 27 wherein said second customer selects, at one or more times, at least one of said p products.

42. The method of claim 27 wherein said company receives from at least one of said first or second customers, at one or more times, an indication of one or more terms and conditions associated with said first or second options, respectively.

43. The method of claim 27 wherein said company delivers to at least one of said first or second customers, at one or more times, one or more terms and conditions associated with said first or second options, respectively.

44. The method of claim 27 wherein said first and second customer can be same.

45. The method of claim 27 wherein none of said options include a notification deadline condition.

46. The method of claim 27 wherein at least one of said options include at least one notification deadline condition.

47. The method of claim 46 wherein said notification deadline condition is different for said first and second options.

48. The method of claim 27 wherein said company allocates at least one product to at least one entity other than said company, and said entity delivers at least one of said first or second options on at least one of said allocated products.

49. The method of claim 27 wherein at least two of said systems are same.

50. The method of claim 27 wherein at least one of said n or k chosen products includes at least one product other than said m or p products, respectively.

51. A computer-implemented method to define customer preferences, comprising:

a. providing a data store including relevant information regarding products;

b. operating a computer-implemented system that defines customer preferences regarding at least utilizing up to n of m selected products, where

i. m and n are whole numbers, and

ii. n is less than m;

c. recording the information pertaining to said preferences in a data store; and

d. operating a computer-implemented system that enables use of said preferences to optimize value for at least one of customers, said company and an entity other than said company.

53. The method of claim 53 wherein said preferences are defined implicitly.

52. The method of claim 53 comprising:

a. operating a system to deliver at least one option to a customer to utilize up to n of m selected products, where m and n are whole numbers and n is less than m;

b. operating a system to define each of said n chosen products, whereby after each of said n chosen products is defined by the company, the customer can utilize said chosen product; and

c. recording the information pertaining to at least one of said option or said defined products in a data store.

54. The method of claim 53 wherein said preferences are defined explicitly by a customer or a company.

55. The method of claim 53 wherein said preferences are taken prior to, at the time or after said customer has purchased the product.

56. The method of claim 53 wherein said optimization of value is for at least one customer other than the customers whose preferences are received.

57. The method of claim 53 wherein said optimization includes concurrent optimization of value for at least two of customers, said company and at least one entity other than said company.