METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING A BENEFIT DURING A TRANSACTION FOR USE DURING A LATER TRANSACTION
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method, comprising:
- determining a first transaction price paid by a customer to consummate a first transaction in which a first unit of a first product and a first unit of a second product are purchased, wherein the first transaction price comprises a sum of a first price paid for the first unit of the first product and a second price paid for the first unit of the second product;
determining, in accordance with a predetermined statistical confidence level threshold, an average amount by which the prices of the first units of the first and second products are expected to vary in the future;
determining, based on the average amount by which the prices of the first units of the first and second products are expected to vary in the future, a price to charge the customer to lock-in the first transaction price for a future transaction in which second units of the first and second products are to be purchased; and
determining, by comparing the determined lock-in price to a predetermined threshold, whether to offer the customer the opportunity to pay the lock-in price to lock-in the first transaction price for the future transaction in which second units of the first and second products are to be purchased.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for allowing a customer to purchase or otherwise receive a benefit during a first transaction that will be redeemed by the customer or provided to the customer at a later time or during a future transaction for the purchase, rental, lease, etc. of one or more products and/or services. The price to the customer for the benefit may be a monetary amount, a non-monetary amount, a commitment by the customer to complete or perform some obligation or qualifying action. The value of the benefit to the customer may be based on one or more aspects or characteristics of the first transaction.
69 Citations
7 Claims
-
1. A method, comprising:
-
determining a first transaction price paid by a customer to consummate a first transaction in which a first unit of a first product and a first unit of a second product are purchased, wherein the first transaction price comprises a sum of a first price paid for the first unit of the first product and a second price paid for the first unit of the second product; determining, in accordance with a predetermined statistical confidence level threshold, an average amount by which the prices of the first units of the first and second products are expected to vary in the future; determining, based on the average amount by which the prices of the first units of the first and second products are expected to vary in the future, a price to charge the customer to lock-in the first transaction price for a future transaction in which second units of the first and second products are to be purchased; and determining, by comparing the determined lock-in price to a predetermined threshold, whether to offer the customer the opportunity to pay the lock-in price to lock-in the first transaction price for the future transaction in which second units of the first and second products are to be purchased. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. A computer-readable medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to:
-
determine a first transaction price paid by a customer to consummate a first transaction in which a first unit of a first product and a first unit of a second product are purchased, wherein the first transaction price comprises a sum of a first price paid for the first unit of the first product and a second price paid for the first unit of the second product; determine, in accordance with a predetermined statistical confidence level threshold, an average amount by which the prices of the first units of the first and second products are expected to vary in the future; determine, based a determination of the average amount by which the prices of the first units of the first and second products are expected to vary in the future, a price to charge the customer to lock-in the first transaction price for a future transaction in which second units of the first and second products are to be purchased; and determine, by comparing a determined lock-in price to a predetermined threshold, whether to offer the customer the opportunity to pay the lock-in price to lock-in the first transaction price for the future transaction in which second units of the first and second products are to be purchased.
-
-
7. An apparatus, comprising:
-
a processor; and a storage device in communication with said processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to; determine a first transaction price paid by a customer to consummate a first transaction in which a first unit of a first product and a first unit of a second product are purchased, wherein the first transaction price comprises a sum of a first price paid for the first unit of the first product and a second price paid for the first unit of the second product; determine, in accordance with a predetermined statistical confidence level threshold, an average amount by which the prices of the first units of the first and second products are expected to vary in the future; determine, based a determination of the average amount by which the prices of the first units of the first and second products are expected to vary in the future, a price to charge the customer to lock-in the first transaction price for a future transaction in which second units of the first and second products are to be purchased; and determine, by comparing a determined lock-in price to a predetermined threshold, whether to offer the customer the opportunity to pay the lock-in price to lock-in the first transaction price for the future transaction in which second units of the first and second products are to be purchased.
-
Specification