System and Method For Allocating Inventory to Satisfy Online Demand and Demand At Physical Locations

• US 20110258014A1
• Filed: 06/24/2011
• Published: 10/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: John D. Taylor, John F. Butler, Joseph W. Craft IV, Leslie D. Crook, Shane N. Evangelist
• Original Assignee: John D. Taylor, John F. Butler, Joseph W. Craft IV, Leslie D. Crook, Shane N. Evangelist
• Inventors: Evangelist, Shane N., Crook, Leslie D., Taylor, John D., Craft, Joseph W. IV, Butler, John F.
• Application Number:
  US13/167,692
• Publication Number:
  US 20110258014A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7.23
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06313 Resource planning in a project environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering

Abstract

A system and method for allocating inventory to satisfy online demand and demand at physical locations includes allocating a first portion of media rental inventory for online fulfillment and a second portion for fulfillment at physical rental locations. The method further includes making a determination of in-store rental activity for the second portion of inventory, and reallocating the first and second portions of inventory based on that determination.

Claims

1. A method performed on a computer for allocating inventory, comprising:

allocating a first portion of inventory to a particular inventory location for online fulfillment;

allocating a second portion of inventory to the particular inventory location for fulfillment at physical locations;

determining physical location rental activity of the second portion of inventory, wherein determining physical location rental activity comprises;

determining a projected physical location rental activity of the second portion of inventory based on past physical location rental activity;

determining an actual physical location rental activity of the second portion of inventory; and

comparing the projected physical location rental activity and the actual physical location rental activity to determine whether to reallocate the first and second portions of inventory; and

reallocating the first and second portions of inventory in accordance with the determined physical location rental activity.

2. Method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at a computer, a media request associated with a subscriber account; and

selecting, by the computer, one of a plurality of inventory locations to fulfill the media request, wherein at least one of the inventory locations accommodates on-site media rental requests.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising increasing the first portion of inventory in accordance with the determined physical location rental activity.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein selecting one of a plurality of inventory locations comprises determining performance data associated with inventory locations that are stores.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein selecting one of a plurality of inventory locations comprises determining performance data associated with inventory locations that are rental kiosks.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein selecting one of a plurality of inventory locations comprises selecting one of a plurality of inventory locations based on classification of available inventory, wherein the available inventory comprises physical location inventory, on-line inventory, and visiting inventory.

7. A system for allocating inventory in response to media requests, comprising:

a plurality of computers operable to make media requests associated with subscriber accounts; and

a controller operable to;

allocate a first portion of inventory to a particular inventory location for on-line fulfillment and allocate a second portion of inventory to the particular inventory location for fulfillment at physical locations;

determine physical location rental activity of the second portion of inventory;

determine a projected physical location rental activity of the second portion of inventory based on past in-store rental activity;

determine an actual physical location rental activity of the second portion of inventory;

compare the projected physical location rental activity and the actual physical location rental activity to determine whether to reallocate the first and second portions of inventory;

reallocate the first and second portions of inventory in accordance with the determined physical location rental activity.

8. The system of claim 7, where the controller is further operable to select a plurality of inventory locations to fulfill the media requests, wherein at least one of the inventory locations accommodates on-site media rental requests.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of inventory locations comprise:

a plurality of stores to accommodate on-site media requests; and

a plurality of fulfillment centers to accommodate on-line media requests.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of inventory locations comprise:

a plurality of rental kiosks to accommodate on-site media requests; and

a plurality of fulfillment centers to accommodate on-line media requests.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the controller is operable to determine performance data associated with inventory locations that accommodate on-site media rental requests.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the controller is operable to determine a geographic location of a customer associated with the media request, and determine performance data associated with inventory locations that accommodate on-site media rental requests.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the controller is operable to select one of a plurality of inventory locations based on classification of available inventory, wherein the available inventory comprises physical location inventory, on-line inventory, and visiting inventory.

14. A controller, comprising:

a memory operable to store inventory information and account information, the inventory information indicating an allocation of media at a plurality of inventory locations, wherein at least one of the locations accommodates physical location media rental requests, the account information indicating a plurality of subscriber accounts;

a processor operable to;

allocate a first portion of inventory for on-line fulfillment to a particular inventory location;

allocate a second portion of inventory for physical location fulfillment to the particular inventory location;

determine physical location rental activity of the second portion of inventory;

determine a projected physical location rental activity of the second portion of inventory based on past physical location rental activity;

determine an actual physical location rental activity of the second portion of inventory;

compare the projected physical location rental activity and the actual physical location rental activity to determine whether to reallocate the first and second portions of inventory; and

reallocate the first and second portions of inventory in accordance with the determined physical location rental activity.

15. The controller of claim 14, further comprising a network interface operable to receive a media request from a subscriber.

16. The controller of claim 15, wherein the processor is further operable to associate the media request with a particular subscriber account using the account information, and select one of a plurality of inventory locations to fulfill the request using the inventory information.

17. The controller of claim 16, wherein the processor is operable to determine a geographic location of a customer associated with the media request, and determine performance data associated with inventory locations that accommodate on-site media rentals.

18. The controller of claim 16, wherein the processor is operable to select an inventory location based on classification of available inventory, wherein the available inventory comprises physical location inventory, on-line inventory, and visiting inventory.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the plurality of inventory locations comprise:

a plurality of rental kiosks to accommodate on-site media requests; and

a plurality of fulfillment centers to accommodate on-line media requests.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the plurality of inventory locations comprise:

a plurality of stores to accommodate on-site media requests; and

a plurality of fulfillment centers to accommodate on-line media requests.