Prioritized Distribution of Offer Information

• US 20110078026A1
• Filed: 09/29/2009
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Durham, Sharon
• Granted Patent: US 8,818,860 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.66
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute

Abstract

A computerized method is disclosed that includes automatically distributing first offer information to at least one first priority contact in a prioritized list of contacts. The first offer information is distributed in response to receiving a request to distribute an offer. The method also includes automatically distributing second offer information to at least one second priority contact in the prioritized list of contacts when a first time period expires.

Claims

1. A computerized method, comprising:

receiving, at a computer, a request to distribute an offer;

in response to receiving the request to distribute the offer, automatically distributing first offer information to at least one first priority contact in a prioritized list of contacts; and

upon expiration of a first time period, automatically distributing second offer information to at least one second priority contact in the prioritized list of contacts.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the offer includes a request to receive at least one of a good and a service.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the offer includes an offer to sell at least one of a good and a service.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first offer information is different from the second offer information.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first offer information includes a first price, and wherein the second offer information includes a second price.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first offer information is the same as the second offer information.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the prioritized list of contacts is prioritized by an offer originator.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the prioritized list of contacts is automatically determined based on at least one characteristic of the offer.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

upon expiration of a second time period, automatically distributing third offer information to at least one third priority contact in the prioritized list of contacts.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the third offer information is not distributed to the at least one third priority contact when a response to the offer is received before the second time period expires.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first offer information is distributed to the at least one first priority contact via at least one peer-to-peer connection, and wherein the second offer information is distributed to the at least one second priority contact via at least one additional peer-to-peer connection.

12. A computer-readable storage medium, comprising:

instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to initiate automatic distribution of first offer information to at least one first priority contact in a prioritized list of contacts in response to receiving a request to distribute an offer; and

instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to initiate automatic distribution of second offer information to at least one second priority contact in the prioritized list of contacts upon expiration of a first time period, wherein the first offer information is different from the second offer information.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, further comprising:

instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive updated contact priority information from an offer originator; and

instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to initiate an update of the prioritized list of contacts based on the updated contact priority information.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the offer includes a sales offer, wherein the first offer information includes a first price, wherein the second offer information includes a second price, and wherein the second price is less than the first price.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the offer includes a request from an offer originator to receive a service, wherein the first offer information includes a first price, wherein the second offer information includes a second price, and wherein the second price is greater than the first price.

16. A system, comprising:

a priority contact component to store a prioritized list of contacts; and

an offer management component to;

receive a request to distribute an offer;

automatically distribute first offer information to a plurality of first priority contacts in the prioritized list of contacts; and

upon expiration of a first time period, automatically distribute second offer information to a plurality of second priority contacts in the prioritized list of contacts.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the request to distribute the offer is received from an offer originator via a web-based user interface.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the priority contact component automatically determines the prioritized list of contacts by matching priority information provided by an offer originator to information stored at a contacts repository.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the prioritized list of contacts is further determined based on information provided by at least one potential respondent to the offer.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein information provided by a particular respondent includes at least one of a service offered by the particular respondent, a location of the particular respondent, and an experience level of the particular respondent.