SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONDUCTING SELF-MODIFYING SEMI-OPAQUE SALES

• US 20140379455A1
• Filed: 09/09/2014
• Published: 12/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Netstartups LLC
• Original Assignee: Joseph Bous
• Inventors: BOUS, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 10,318,981 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0235 constrained by time limit or expiration date
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

Disclosed are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for semi-opaque sales with bundles of items. An example bundle can include hotel lodging and a bonus service, status, or item associated with that hotel. An system can identify a first bundle of a first base and bonus item, and a second bundle of a second base and bonus item. The system can present a semi-opaque offer comprising the first bundle, the second bundle, and a discount price, wherein the semi-opaque offer does not identify which of the first bundle and the second bundle will be sold at the discount price to the user upon acceptance of the semi-opaque offer, and wherein the discount price is a full price of the first base item. After receiving acceptance of the semi-opaque offer from the user, the system can disclose that the user has purchased the first bundle at the discount price.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

presenting to a user an offer comprising an item and a discount price, wherein the offer indicates a time period after which at least one term of the offer will change, and wherein the offer does not indicate how the offer will change after the time period;

upon receiving, from the user, acceptance of the offer prior to expiration of the time period, furthering a purchase of the item according to the offer; and

upon expiration of the time period without receiving acceptance of the semi-opaque offer from the user, iteratively modifying the offer by;

changing the at least one term of the offer to yield a modified offer;

selecting a next change to the modified offer;

setting a next time period after which the modified offer will change according to the next change if acceptance of the modified offer is not received; and

presenting the modified offer to the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the item comprises a base item and at least one bonus item.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein changing the at least one term of the offer comprises removing a bonus item.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein changing the at least one term of the offer comprises modifying a detail of one of the base item or the at least one bonus item.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the detail of the base item comprises at least one of timing, an item class, or a level of service.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein changing the at least one term of the offer comprises increasing the discount price.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the time period is static.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the time period is dynamically determined.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the time period is determined based on at least one of item availability, a target profit margin, characteristics of the user, occupancy, or a pool of available discounts.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the offer is presented to the user in response to a purchase inquiry.

11. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

presenting to a user an offer comprising an item and a discount price, wherein the offer indicates a time period after which at least one term of the offer will change, and wherein the offer does not indicate how the offer will change after the time period;

upon receiving, from the user, acceptance of the offer prior to expiration of the time period, furthering a purchase of the item according to the offer; and

upon expiration of the time period without receiving acceptance of the semi-opaque offer from the user, iteratively modifying the offer by;

changing the at least one term of the offer to yield a modified offer;

selecting a next change to the modified offer;

setting a next time period after which the modified offer will change according to the next change if acceptance of the modified offer is not received; and

presenting the modified offer to the user.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the item comprises a base item and at least one bonus item.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein changing the at least one term of the offer comprises removing a bonus item.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein changing the at least one term of the offer comprises modifying a detail of one of the base item or the at least one bonus item.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the detail of the base item comprises at least one of timing, an item class, or a level of service.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein changing the at least one term of the offer comprises increasing the discount price.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the time period is static.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the time period is dynamically determined.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the time period is determined based on at least one of item availability, a target profit margin, characteristics of the user, occupancy, or a pool of available discounts.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage device having stored therein instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

presenting to a user an offer comprising an item and a discount price, wherein the offer indicates a time period after which at least one term of the offer will change, and wherein the offer does not indicate how the offer will change after the time period;

upon receiving, from the user, acceptance of the offer prior to expiration of the time period, furthering a purchase of the item according to the offer; and

upon expiration of the time period without receiving acceptance of the semi-opaque offer from the user, iteratively modifying the offer by;

changing the at least one term of the offer to yield a modified offer;

selecting a next change to the modified offer;

setting a next time period after which the modified offer will change according to the next change if acceptance of the modified offer is not received; and

presenting the modified offer to the user.