Business Method of Providing a Channel for Delivering and Distributing Events Based on a Subscription Model for Service Providers to Enhance Sales Opportunities

• US 20080057953A1
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kraft, Reiner, Ruvolo, Joann
• Application Number:
  US11/928,420
• Publication Number:
  US 20080057953A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/433
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0205 Location or geographical consideration

Abstract

Sales associated with service providers are increased using an opportunistic approach based on an unexpected change in a schedule or services (time, location). Windows of opportunity (time, physical location) are automatically identified, and once such a window of opportunity is detected, the people affected directly from the change of a schedule are identified. This information is then used by service providers to act quickly in order to enhance sales. Both service providers and consumers setup a personalized profile in a database, and the system uses a matching process to match related service providers to the consumers'"'"' preferences.

Claims

1. A computer-based system comprising:

(a) a window of opportunity event generator, said window of opportunity event generator automatically identifying an event associated with a subscriber, said event comprising an unexpected period of inactivity when an activity previously scheduled by said subscriber is blocked;

(b) a distribution channel analyzer, said distribution channel analyzer analyzing said event to determine whether said event is likely to generate an increase in sales;

(c) a location tracker receiving location data associated with said subscriber;

an event matcher receiving, from said distribution analyzer, an analyzed event that is likely to generate an increase in sales and said event matcher receiving, from said location tracker, said location data associated with said subscriber, wherein said event matcher selects at least one service provider based on said received analyzed event and said received location data, and said event matcher sends an event notification to said selected at least one service provider for servicing said blocked event.

2. The computer-based system of claim 1, wherein said event matcher selects said at least one service provider additionally based on consumer profile information regarding previous events associated with said subscriber.

3. The computer-based system of claim 1, wherein said system further comprises an accounting manager, said accounting manager cooperating with said event matcher to provide an accounting functionality for said at least one of said service providers.

4. The computer-based system of claim 1, wherein location data is received from a GPS receiver.

5. The computer-based system of claim 1, wherein location data is received from a cellular telephone.

6. The computer-based system of claim 1, wherein location data is received from a portable wireless device.

7. The computer-based method of claim 1, wherein said event notification is sent over a network.

8. The computer-based method of claim 7, wherein said network is any of the following:

local area network (LAN), wide area network (LAN), or the Internet.

9. A computer-based method comprising the steps of:

(a) automatically identifying an event associated with a subscriber, said event comprising an unexpected period of inactivity when an activity previously scheduled by said subscriber is blocked;

(b) analyzing said event to determine whether said event is likely to generate an increase in sales;

(c) receiving location data associated with said subscriber;

(d) receiving consumer profile information regarding previous events associated with said subscriber;

(e) selecting at least one service provider based on said received analyzed event in (b), said received location data in (c), and said received consumer profile information in (d); and

sending an event notification to said selected at least one service provider in (e) for servicing said blocked event.

10. The computer-based method of claim 9, wherein said method further comprises the step of providing an accounting functionality for said at least one of said service providers.

11. The computer-based method of claim 9, wherein location data is received from a GPS receiver.

12. The computer-based method of claim 9, wherein location data is received from a cellular telephone.

13. The computer-based method of claim 9, wherein location data is received from a portable wireless device.

14. The computer-based method of claim 9, wherein said event notification is sent over a network.

15. The computer-based method of claim 14, wherein said network is any of the following:

local area network (LAN), wide area network (LAN), or the Internet.

16. An article of manufacture comprising computer program product, said computer program product comprising computer readable medium storing processor-executable program code, said medium comprising:

(a) computer readable program code aiding in automatically identifying an event associated with a subscriber, said event comprising an unexpected period of inactivity when an activity previously scheduled by said subscriber is blocked;

(b) computer readable program code aiding in analyzing said event to determine whether said event is likely to generate an increase in sales;

(c) computer readable program code aiding in receiving location data associated with said subscriber;

(d) computer readable program code aiding in receiving consumer profile information regarding previous events associated with said subscriber;

(e) computer readable program code aiding in selecting at least one service provider based on said received analyzed event in (b), said received location data in (c), and said received consumer profile information in (d); and

computer readable program code aiding in sending an event notification to said selected at least one service provider in (e) for servicing said blocked event.

17. The article of manufacture of claim 16, wherein said medium further comprises computer readable program code aiding in providing an accounting functionality for said at least one of said service providers.