APPARATUS, METHOD, AND SYSTEM FOR CONDUCTING A TRANSACTION

• US 20130231991A1
• Filed: 03/05/2013
• Published: 09/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company (Trane Technologies plc)
• Original Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: Denari, Aine
• Application Number:
  US13/786,168
• Publication Number:
  US 20130231991A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.23
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions

Abstract

A computing device is configured to receive an order from a customer to purchase one or more devices. The computing device is configured to determine a discount. The computing device is further configured to generate a transaction for the purchase including the discount. The computing device is further configured to provide the transaction to the customer.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, with a computing device, a first request from a first instance to purchase one or more first devices at a first quantity;

determining, with the computing device, a first relational discount for one or more second devices associated with the purchase of the first devices at the first quantity, wherein at least one of the one or more second devices are operable with the one or more first devices;

generating, with the computing device, a first transaction including the first quantity and the first relational discount for the one or more second devices; and

providing, with the computing device, the first transaction to the first instance.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first relational discount is directly proportional to the first quantity.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

allocating to the first instance the first devices at the first quantity.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

providing notification to the first instance of the allocation of the first devices at the first quantity and the first relational discount for the one or more second devices.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving, with the computing device, a second request from a second instance to purchase one or more first devices at a second quantity;

determining, with the computing device, a second relational discount for one or more second devices associated with the purchase of the first devices at the second quantity,

allocating to the second instance the first devices at the second quantity;

generating, with the computing device, a second transaction including the second quantity and the second relational discount for the one or more second devices; and

providing, with the computing device, the second transaction to the second instance.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device includes at least one of an air conditioning unit, a furnace, and a HVAC system.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second device includes at least one of a control unit, a software application to control various devices in an intelligent home system, a light unit, a bridge, an appliance unit, a dimmer unit, a lock, a keypad, a camera, a security sensor, an energy monitor unit, a router, in wall dimmer switch, a wall switch, an outdoor light unit, outlet dimmer, outlet switch, a door sensor, window sensor, a water sensor, a motion detector, motorized shades and screens, a home theatre, a keychain remote access, garage door openers, an in wall scene controller, and a remote controller.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the transaction further includes a six-month service subscription to utilize a remote control system configured to control at least one of the first devices and the second devices.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the first transaction includes at least one of emailing the first transaction, displaying the first transaction on the computing device or another device, depositing the first transaction in a web portal, and printing the first transaction on paper.

10. An apparatus, comprising:

a computing device including an input module, a calculation module, and a display module, wherein the input module is configured to receive a first order from a first customer to purchase one or more first devices at a first quantity, wherein the calculation module is configured to determine a first discount rate for a first package of one or more second devices associated with the purchase of the first devices at the first quantity, wherein the calculation module is further configured to generate a first transaction including the first quantity and the first discount rate for the one or more second devices, and wherein the display module is configured to provide the first transaction to the first customer.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the calculation module of the computing device is further configured to allocate to the first customer the first devices at the first quantity.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the display module is further configured to notify the first customer of the allocation and of the first discount rate.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the input module is further configured to receive a second request from a second customer to purchase one or more first devices at a second quantity, wherein the calculation module is further configured to determine a second discount rate for a second package of one or more second devices associated with the purchase of the first devices at the second quantity, allocating to the second instance the first devices at the second quantity, wherein the calculation module is further configured to generate a second transaction including the second quantity and the second discount rate for the one or more second devices, and wherein the display module is further configured to provide the second transaction to the second customer.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein providing the first transaction includes at least one of emailing the first transaction, displaying the first transaction on the computing device or another device, depositing the first transaction in a web portal, and printing the first transaction on paper.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first discount rate is directly proportional to the first quantity.

16. A method, comprising:

receiving an order to purchase at least one or more first devices;

determining a bundle including the one or more first devices and a plurality of second devices;

determining a discount for at least a portion of the bundle that is directly proportional to a number of first devices to be purchased;

generating a transaction including the bundle and the discount; and

displaying the transaction.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

managing manufacturing and inventory based on the number of first devices in the order.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

allocating a portion of the inventory based on the number of first devices in the order.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

increasing manufacturing output of first devices based on the number of first devices in the order.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the discount is applied to a cost of the second devices.