Method and system for real time pricing of fine-grained resource purchases
First Claim
1. A method for real time pricing of fine-grained resource purchases, said method comprising the steps of:
- periodically determining real time pricing for a fine-grained resource utilizing a distributed computing network;
providing a price to a user for said fine-grained resource prior to purchase to allow said user to know the price prior to purchase, wherein said price is the actual cost of said fine-grained resource;
scheduling local utilization of said fine-grained resource by said user in response to variations in said real time pricing; and
posting charges for purchase of said fine-grained resource to said user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for controlling the purchase of fine-grained resource purchases, such as utility resources or access to limited highway lanes. Real time pricing based upon current demand and/or usage is periodically determined. Access to that real time pricing information is obtained by individual users via a distributed computing network or radio frequency broadcast system and utilization of those resources is then locally controlled based upon that pricing information. Access to limited highway lanes may be priced based upon current actual utilization and pricing information is then broadcast, permitting users to selectively access those lanes based upon real time pricing decisions by those users.
72 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for real time pricing of fine-grained resource purchases, said method comprising the steps of:
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periodically determining real time pricing for a fine-grained resource utilizing a distributed computing network;
providing a price to a user for said fine-grained resource prior to purchase to allow said user to know the price prior to purchase, wherein said price is the actual cost of said fine-grained resource;
scheduling local utilization of said fine-grained resource by said user in response to variations in said real time pricing; and
posting charges for purchase of said fine-grained resource to said user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system for real time pricing of fine-grained resource purchases, said system comprising:
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communication means for periodically determining real time pricing for a fine-grained resource utilizing a distributed computing network;
communication means for providing a price to said user for said fine-grained resource prior to purchase to allow said user to know the price prior to purchase, wherein said price is the actual cost of said fine-grained resource;
controller means for scheduling local utilization of said fine-grained resource by said user in response to variations in said real time pricing; and
billing means for posting charges for purchase of said fine-grained resource to said user. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for real time pricing of utility resources, said system comprising:
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a local communication device for periodically determining real time pricing of utility resources utilizing a distributed computing network and for providing said real time pricing of utility resources to individual users prior to purchase thereof;
controller means for scheduling local devices which utilize said utility resource in response to individual user inputs and variations in said real time pricing of said utility resources; and
billing means for posting charges for purchases of utility resources by individual users. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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Specification