DEMAND AGGREGATION FOR FUTURE ITEMS CONTINGENT UPON THRESHOLD DEMAND

• US 20080097826A1
• Filed: 09/04/2007
• Published: 04/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Shoowin, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Shoowin, Inc.
• Inventors: Leach, Andrew, Harmon, Richard
• Application Number:
  US11/849,905
• Publication Number:
  US 20080097826A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

The present invention relates to predicting, measuring, and/or guaranteeing demand for a contingent or hypothetical future item and, based upon that demand, determining whether or not to actually produce the future item. In particular, the present invention measures such demand via contingent event certificates and associated marketplaces.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

presenting an offer relating to at least one of a forward right and a forward obligation with respect to a future item;

assessing a response to the offer; and

determining whether the future item will be produced based on the assessed response.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the offeror is obligated to produce the future item if response to the offer satisfies a threshold condition.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the future item is a consumer product.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the future item is a consumer service.

186. The method of claim 1, wherein the response to the offer comprises obtaining the forward right at a cost.

187. The method of claim 1, wherein the response to the offer comprises obtaining the forward right at no cost.

188. The method of claim 1, wherein the response to the offer comprises earning the forward right.

189. The method of claim 1, further comprising converting the forward right to a forward obligation when response to the offer satisfies a threshold condition.

190. The method of claim 189, wherein billing for the future item is automatic upon conversion of the forward right.

191. The method of claim 1, wherein the future item is user-generated content.

192. The method of claim 1, wherein the future item is producer-generated content.

193. The method of claim 1, wherein the offeror receives a share of revenue attributable to the future item.

194. The method of claim 1, wherein the offer is presented to an audience.

195. The method of claim 194, wherein the audience is a social network.

196. The method of claim 1, wherein a future item producer is obligated to produce the future item offered by the offeror when response to the offer satisfies a threshold condition.

2-12. -12. (canceled)

14-15. -15. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

19-56. -56. (canceled)

57. A system comprising;

a presentation of an offer of relating to at least one of a forward right and a forward obligation with respect to a future item;

at least one response to the offer; and

a determination of whether the future item will be produced based on the assessed response.

69. The system of claim 57, wherein the offeror is obligated to produce the future item if response to the offer satisfies a threshold condition.

72. The system of claim 57, wherein the future item is a consumer product.

74. The system of claim 57, wherein the future item is a consumer service.

197. The system of claim 57, wherein the response to the offer comprises obtaining the forward right at a cost.

198. The system of claim 57, wherein the response to the offer comprises obtaining the forward right at no cost.

199. The system of claim 57, wherein the response to the offer comprises earning the forward right.

200. The system of claim 57, further comprising a conversion of the forward right to a forward obligation when response to the offer satisfies a threshold condition.

201. The system of claim 200, wherein billing for the future item is automatic upon conversion of the forward right.

202. The system of claim 57, wherein the future item is user-generated content.

203. The system of claim 57, wherein the future item is producer-generated content.

204. The system of claim 57, wherein the offeror receives a share of revenue attributable to the future item.

205. The system of claim 57, wherein the offer is presented to an audience.

206. The system of claim 205, wherein the audience is a social network.

207. The system of claim 57, wherein a future item producer is obligated to produce the future item offered by the offeror when response to the offer satisfies a threshold condition.

58-68. -68. (canceled)

70-71. -71. (canceled)

73. (canceled)

75-185. -185. (canceled)