Automated service upgrade offer acceptance system

• US 6,112,185 A
• Filed: 06/30/1997
• Issued: 08/29/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Inventor Holdings LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Walker, Jay S., Jindal, Sanjay K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stamber, Eric W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CAUDLE, PENNY L
• Application Number:
  US08/885,570
• Time in Patent Office: 1,156 Days
• Field of Search: 705/5, 705/6, 705/13, 705/15, 340/825.28, 340/825.29
• US Class Current: 705/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/025 Coordination of plural reservations, e.g. plural trip segments, transportation combined with accommodation

Abstract

An automated service upgrade offer acceptance system is provided for receiving (i) reservations for a selected category of assigned services, such as seating, and (ii) offers for upgraded services, such as an upgrade of an initially selected category of seating to a preferred seating category, from confirmed customers. The automated service upgrade acceptance system permits customers to submit offers for a number of upgraded services or upgrade offer items, including offers for an upgrade of an initial category of seating to a different seating category, including premium seats within a given category of seating, as well as other premium services, such as priority for special meals or drinks, priority for receipt of luggage upon deplaning, and discount companion tickets. The automated service upgrade acceptance system allows a customer to place a binding offer for an upgraded offer item, should the item become available. Offers for upgraded services can be accepted by the automated service upgrade acceptance system at any time during a seller-defined offer acceptance period, from the time of making a reservation, up to a predefined expiration period. The automated service upgrade acceptance system processes the received offers for upgraded services, at one or more intervals until an offer acceptance period expires, to determine whether to accept or reject each offer for an upgraded service and thereafter notify the customers of any revised seating assignments. The received offers for each different upgrade offer item are preferably processed in a predefined sequence, such that offers for the highest categories of seating are processed first. The automated service upgrade acceptance system can enhance the value of offers in accordance with seller-defined criteria for preferred customers, such as frequent flyers, or in accordance with a promotional offer.

Claims

1. A method for processing reservations for a selected category of assigned service, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a reservation from a customer for said selected category of service at a specified price from among a plurality of service categories;

receiving an offer from said customer for a change of said selected category of service to a preferred category of service at a price defined by said customer;

evaluating said offer based on predefined offer acceptance criteria; and

indicating said offer as acceptable if said offer meets said predefined offer acceptance criteria.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of providing a notification of a service reassignment if said offer is accepted.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said predefined offer acceptance criteria includes an availability of said preferred category of service.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said predefined offer acceptance criteria includes forecasted demand for said preferred category of service.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said selected category of service is an assigned seat category.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of receiving a guarantee of payment for said reservation.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of receiving a guarantee of payment for said offer.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of providing an acceptance or rejection of said offer upon checking in to receive said selected category of service.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said evaluating step includes determining an availability of the preferred category of service.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said offer is weighted in accordance with seller-defined criteria.

75. The method of claim 1, wherein said predefined offer acceptance criteria includes minimum acceptable prices.

81. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of evaluating said offer further comprises the substep of determining if an offer acceptance period has expired.

4. A method for processing reservations for a selected category of assigned service, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a reservation from a customer for said selected category of service at a specified price from among a plurality of service categories;

receiving an offer from said customer for a change of said selected category of service to a preferred category of service at a price;

evaluating said offer based on predefined offer acceptance criteria, wherein said predefined offer acceptance criteria includes minimum acceptable prices; and

indicating said offer as acceptable if said offer meets said predefined offer acceptance criteria.

12. A method of processing reservations for a selected category of service, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a reservation from a customer for a selected category of service;

receiving an offer from said customer for an upgraded service associated with said selected category of service at a price defined by said customer;

evaluating said offer based on predefined offer acceptance criteria; and

treating said offer as acceptable if said offer meets said predefined offer acceptance criteria.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein said predefined offer acceptance criteria includes forecasted demand for said upgraded service.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of receiving a guarantee of payment for said reservation.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of receiving a guarantee of payment for said offer.

17. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of providing an acceptance or rejection of said offer upon checking in to said selected category of service.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein said evaluating step includes determining an availability of the upgraded service.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein said offer is weighted in accordance with seller-defined criteria.

76. The method of claim 12, wherein said predefined offer acceptance criteria includes minimum acceptable prices.

82. The method of claim 12, wherein said step of evaluating said offer further comprises the substep of determining if an offer acceptance period has expired.

13. A method of processing reservations for a selected category of service, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a reservation from a customer for a selected category of service;

receiving an offer from said customer for an upgraded service associated with said selected category of service;

evaluating said offer based on predefined offer acceptance criteria, wherein said predefined offer acceptance criteria includes minimum acceptable prices; and

treating said offer as acceptable if said offer meets said predefined offer acceptance criteria.

20. A method for processing reservations for a selected category of assigned service, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving an offer from an individual having a reservation for a selected category of service for a change of said selected category of service to a preferred category of service at a particular price defined by said individual;

evaluating said offer based on predefined offer acceptance criteria; and

accepting said offer if said offer meets said predefined offer acceptance criteria.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of providing a notification of a service reassignment if said offer is accepted.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein said predefined offer acceptance criteria includes an availability of said preferred category of service.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein said predefined offer acceptance criteria includes forecasted demand for said preferred category of service.

25. The method of claim 20 wherein said selected category of service is an assigned seat category.

26. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of receiving a guarantee of payment for said offer.

27. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of providing an acceptance or rejection of said offer upon checking in to receive said selected category of service.

28. The method of claim 20 wherein said evaluating step includes determining an availability of the preferred category of service.

29. The method of claim 20 wherein said offer is weighted in accordance with seller-defined criteria.

77. The method of claim 20, wherein said predefined offer acceptance criteria includes minimum acceptable prices.

23. A method for processing reservations for a selected category of assigned service, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving an offer from an individual having a reservation for a selected category of service for a change of said selected category of service to a preferred category of service at a particular price;

evaluating said offer based on predefined offer acceptance criteria, wherein said predefined offer acceptance criteria includes minimum acceptable prices; and

accepting said offer if said offer meets said predefined offer acceptance criteria.

30. A reservation system comprising:

means for receiving a reservation from a customer for a selected category of service at a specified price from among a plurality of service categories;

means for receiving an offer from said customer for an upgrade of said selected category of service to a preferred category of service at an incremental price defined by said customer;

means for evaluating at a predetermined time said offer based on predefined offer acceptance criteria; and

means for indicating that said offer is acceptable if said offer satisfies said predefined offer acceptance criteria.

31. The reservation system of claim 30 further comprising means for providing a notification of a service reassignment if said offer is accepted.

32. The reservation system of claim 30 wherein said predefined offer acceptance criteria includes an availability of said preferred category of service.

34. The reservation system of claim 30 wherein said predefined offer acceptance criteria includes forecasted demand for said preferred category of service.

35. The reservation system of claim 30 wherein said selected category of service is an assigned seat category.

36. The reservation system of claim 30 further comprising means for receiving a guarantee of payment for said reservation.

37. The reservation system of claim 30 further comprising means for receiving a guarantee of payment for said offer.

38. The reservation system of claim 30 further comprising means for providing an acceptance or rejection of said offer upon checking in to receive said selected category of service.

78. The reservation system of claim 30, wherein said predefined offer acceptance criteria includes minimum acceptable prices.

83. The system of claim 30, wherein said means for evaluating further comprises means for determining if an offer acceptance period has expired.

33. A reservation system comprising:

means for receiving a reservation from a customer for a selected category of service at a specified price from among a plurality of service categories;

means for receiving an offer from said customer for an upgrade of said selected category of service to a preferred category of service at an incremental price;

means for evaluating at a predetermined time said offer based on predefined offer acceptance criteria, wherein said predefined offer acceptance criteria includes minimum acceptable prices; and

means for indicating that said offer is acceptable if said offer satisfies said predefined offer acceptance criteria.

39. An offer processing system comprising:

means for receiving an offer from an individual having a reservation for a selected category of service for a change of said selected category of service to a preferred category of service at a particular price defined by said individual;

means of evaluating said offer based on predefined offer acceptance criteria; and

means for indicating that said offer is acceptable if said offer meets said predefined offer acceptance criteria.

40. The offer processing system of claim 39 further comprising means for providing a notification of a service reassignment if said offer is accepted.

41. The offer processing system of claim 39 wherein said predefined offer acceptance criteria includes an availability of said preferred category of service.

43. The offer processing system of claim 39 wherein said predefined offer acceptance criteria includes forecasted demand for said preferred category of service.

44. The offer processing system of claim 39 wherein said selected category of service is an assigned seat category.

45. The offer processing system of claim 39 further comprising means for receiving a guarantee of payment for said offer.

46. The offer processing system of claim 39 further comprising means for providing an acceptance or rejection of said offer upon checking in to receive said selected category of service.

79. The offer processing system of claim 39, wherein said predefined offer acceptance criteria includes minimum acceptable prices.

42. An offer processing system comprising:

means for receiving an offer from an individual having a reservation for a selected category of service for a change of said selected category of service to a preferred category of service at a particular price;

means of evaluating said offer based on predefined offer acceptance criteria, wherein said predefined offer acceptance criteria includes minimum acceptable prices; and

means for indicating that said offer is acceptable if said offer meets said predefined offer acceptance criteria.

47. A method of obtaining a service from amongst a plurality of service categories, said method comprising the steps of:

obtaining a reservation from a customer for a selected category of service from amongst a plurality of categories of services at a specified price;

receiving an offer from said customer for an upgrade of said selected category of service to a preferred category of service at a price defined by said customer; and

indicating that said offer is acceptable if said offer meets said predefined offer acceptance criteria.

48. The method of claim 47 further comprising the step of receiving a notification of a service reassignment if said offer is accepted.

49. The method of claim 47 wherein said selected category of service is an assigned seat category.

50. The method of claim 47 further comprising the step of providing a guarantee of payment for said reservation.

51. The method of claim 47 further comprising the step of providing a guarantee of payment for said offer.

52. The method of claim 47 further comprising the step of receiving an acceptance or rejection of said offer upon checking in to receive said selected category of service.

53. A method of obtaining an upgraded service from amongst a plurality of services, said method comprising the steps of:

obtaining a reservation from a customer for a selected category of service;

receiving an offer from said customer of an upgraded service associated with said selected category of service at a price defined by said customer; and

accepting said offer if said offer meets said predefined offer acceptance criteria.

54. The method of claim 53 wherein said selected category of service is an assigned seat category.

55. The method of claim 53 further comprising the step of providing a guarantee of payment for said reservation.

56. The method of claim 53 further comprising the step of providing a guarantee of payment for said offer.

57. The method of claim 53 further comprising the step of receiving an acceptance or rejection of said offer upon checking in to receive said selected category of service.

58. An article of manufacture comprising:

a computer readable medium having computer readable code means embodied thereon, said computer readable code means comprising;

a step to receive a reservation from a customer for a selected category of service at a specified price from among a plurality of service categories;

a step to receive an offer from said customer for a change of said selected category of service to a preferred category of service at a price defined by said customer;

a step to determine at a predetermined time the availability of services in said preferred category of service;

a step to evaluate said offer based on predefined offer acceptance criteria; and

a step to indicate whether said offer is acceptable.

84. The article of manufacture of claim 58, wherein said step to evaluate further comprises a substep to determine if an offer acceptance period has expired.

59. An article of manufacture comprising:

a computer readable medium having computer readable code means embodied thereon, said computer readable code means comprising;

a step to receive an offer from an individual having a reservation for a selected category of service for a change of said selected category of service to a preferred category of service at a particular price defined by said individual;

a step to determine at a predetermined time the availability of services in said preferred category of service;

a step to evaluate said offer based on predefined offer acceptance criteria; and

a step to designate said offer is acceptable.

60. An article of manufacture comprising:

a computer readable medium having computer readable code means embodied thereon, said computer readable code means comprising;

a step to receive a reservation from a customer for a selected category of service;

a step to receive an offer from said customer for an upgraded service associated with said selected category of service at a price defined by said customer;

a step to evaluate said offer based on predefined offer acceptance criteria; and

a step to accept said offer if said offer meets said predefined offer acceptance criteria.

61. A method for processing reservations for a selected category of assigned service, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving an offer from an individual having a reservation for a selected category of service for a change of said selected category of service to a preferred category of service at a particular price defined by said individual;

providing said offer to a provider of said service for evaluating said offer based on predefined offer acceptance criteria; and

indicating said offer as acceptable if said offer meets said predefined offer acceptance criteria.

62. The method of claim 61 further comprising the step of providing a notification of a service reassignment if said offer is accepted.

63. The method of claim 61 wherein said predefined offer acceptance criteria includes the availability of said preferred category of service.

65. The method of claim 61 wherein said predefined offer acceptance criteria includes forecasted demand for said preferred category of service.

66. The method of claim 61 wherein said selected category of service is an assigned seat category.

67. The method of claim 61 further comprising the step of receiving a guarantee of payment for said offer.

68. The method of claim 61 further comprising the step of providing an acceptance or rejection of said offer upon checking in to receive said selected category of service.

69. The method of claim 61 wherein said evaluating step includes determining the availability of the preferred category of service.

70. The method of claim 61 wherein said offer is weighted in accordance with seller-defined criteria.

80. The method of claim 61, wherein said predefined offer acceptance criteria includes minimum acceptable prices.

64. A method for processing reservations for a selected category of assigned service, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving an offer from an individual having a reservation for a selected category of service for a change of said selected category of service to a preferred category of service at a particular price;

providing said offer to a provider of said service for evaluating said offer based on predefined offer acceptance criteria, wherein said predefined offer acceptance criteria includes minimum acceptable prices; and

indicating said offer as acceptable if said offer meets said predefined offer acceptance criteria.

71. A method for processing reservations for a selected category of assigned service, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a reservation from a customer for said selected category of service at a specified price from among a plurality of service categories;

receiving an offer from said customer for a change of said selected category of service to a preferred category of service at a price;

evaluating said offer based on predefined offer acceptance criteria wherein said step of evaluating said offer further comprises the substep of determining if an offer acceptance period has expired; and

indicating said offer as acceptable if said offer meets said predefined offer acceptance criteria.

72. A method of processing reservations for a selected category of service, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a reservation from a customer for a selected category of service;

receiving an offer from said customer for an upgraded service associated with said selected category of service;

evaluating said offer based on predefined offer acceptance criteria, wherein said step of evaluating said offer further comprises the substep of determining if an offer acceptance period has expired; and

treating said offer as acceptable if said offer meets said predefined offer acceptance criteria.

73. A reservation system comprising:

means for receiving a reservation from a customer for a selected category of service at a specified price from among a plurality of service categories;

means for receiving an offer from said customer for an upgrade of said selected category of service to a preferred category of service at an incremental price;

means for evaluating at a predetermined time said offer based on predefined offer acceptance criteria, wherein said means for evaluating further comprises means for determining if an offer acceptance period has expired; and

means for indicating that said offer is acceptable if said offer satisfies said predefined offer acceptance criteria.

74. An article of manufacture comprising:

a computer readable medium having computer readable code means embodied thereon, said computer readable code means comprising;

a step to receive a reservation from a customer for a selected category of service at a specified price from among a plurality of service categories;

a step to receive an offer from said customer for a change of said selected category of service to a preferred category of service at a price;

a step to determine at a predetermined time the availability of services in said preferred category of service;

a step to evaluate said offer based on predefined offer acceptance criteria, wherein said step to evaluate further comprises a substep to determine if an offer acceptance period has expired; and

a step to indicate whether said offer is acceptable.