CONSOLIDATING LEADS RECEIVED FROM POTENTIAL RENTERS FOR BILLING A LISTER

• US 20100169197A1
• Filed: 12/30/2008
• Published: 07/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rent Group Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Viva Group Incorporated
• Inventors: Thornhill, Curtis, Holden, Robert, Canning, Robert N., Go, Adrienne, McKnight, William
• Granted Patent: US 8,112,329 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/16 Real estate
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

In some example embodiments, a system and method are illustrated to bill a lister using consolidated leads received from potential renters. The system and method include receiving from at least one potential renter, at least one lead directed to a property listing associated with a lister. The system and method include consolidating two or more leads received from the same potential renter into a lead group. The system and method further include billing the lister according to the number of distinct leads received from potential renters counting each lead group as a distinct lead. In some example embodiments, the system and method further include setting a specified listing period for the lister and checking whether the specified listing period has expired before counting a received lead.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving from at least one potential renter, at least one lead directed to a property listing associated with a lister;

consolidating two or more leads received from the same potential renter into a lead group; and

billing the lister according to the number of distinct leads received from potential renters, counting each lead group as a distinct lead.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

setting a specified listing period for the lister; and

checking whether the specified listing period has expired before counting a received lead.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the setting further comprises determining the specified listing period for the lister based upon an instruction received from the lister.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the setting further comprises changing the specified listing period for the listing upon receipt of a request from the lister.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the setting further comprises receiving a valid identifier from the lister.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the receiving further comprises notifying the lister of the received lead.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the notifying further comprises indicating listing period remaining to the listing.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the consolidating further comprises presenting a lead group identifier corresponding to the lead group to the lister.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the billing occurs on a basis of a specified periodic time.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the billing further comprises inactivating the property listing associated with the lister upon receipt of an inactivation request from the lister.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein the billing further comprises inactivating the property listing associated with the lister if the specified listing period has expired.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the inactivating further comprises reactivating the inactivated property listing upon receipt of a corresponding indication from the lister.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

setting a lead cap for the lister; and

inactivating the property listing associated with the lister if the number of leads received from the potential renters reaches the lead cap.

14. A computer system, comprising:

a receiving engine to receive from at least one potential renter, at least one lead directed to a property listing associated with a lister;

a consolidating engine to consolidate two or more leads received from the same potential renter into a lead group; and

a billing engine to bill the lister according to the number of distinct leads received from the potential renters counting each lead group as a distinct lead.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a setting engine to set a specified listing period for the lister, wherein the receiving engine checks whether the specified listing period expired before counting a received lead.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the receiving engine is further configured to determine the specified listing period for the listing based upon an instruction received from the lister.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the receiving engine is further configured to change the specified listing period for the lister upon receipt of a request from the lister.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the receiving engine is further configured to receive a valid identifier from the lister.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the receiving engine is further configured to notify the lister of the received lead.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the receiving engine is further configured to indicate listing period remaining to the listing.

21. The system of claim 14, wherein the consolidating engine is further configured to present a lead group identifier corresponding to the lead group to the lister.

22. The system of claim 14, wherein the billing engine is further configured to bill the lister on a basis of a specified periodic time.

23. The system of claim 14, wherein the billing engine is further configured to inactivate the property listing associated with the lister upon receipt of an inactivation request from the lister.

24. The system of claim 15, wherein the billing engine is further configured to inactivate the property listing associated with the lister if the specified listing period has expired.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the billing engine is further configured to reactivate the inactivated property listing upon receipt of a corresponding indication from the lister.

26. The system of claim 14, wherein the receiving engine is further configured to set a lead cap for the lister and wherein the billing engine is further configured to inactivate the property listing associated with the lister if the number of leads received from the potential renters reaches the lead cap.

27. An apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving from at least one potential renter, at least one lead directed to a property listing associated with a lister;

means for consolidating two or more leads received from the same potential renter into a lead group; and

means for billing the lister according to the number of distinct leads received from potential renters counting each lead group as a distinct lead.

28. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

receive from at least one potential renter, at least one lead directed to a property listing associated with a lister;

consolidate two or more leads received from the same potential renter into a lead group; and

bill the lister according to the number of distinct leads received from potential renters counting each lead group as a distinct lead.