System and method for reducing excess capacity for restaurants and other industries during off-peak or other times
DCFirst Claim
1. A method for enabling one or more users to request incentives to dine at one or more user selected restaurants, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a web site for receiving requests from users for incentives for dining at one or more user selected restaurants, the request including one or more user specified dining parameters;
processing the one or more incentive requests to dynamically determine for an individual user whether incentives should be provided to the user, the determination being made based on at least the user specified dining parameters and one or more restaurant specified business rules;
providing a response to the user indicating if any incentives are being offered to the user by the one or more restaurants; and
receiving at the web site a selection from the user for an offered incentive.
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Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for reducing excess capacity for restaurants and other industries during off-peak hours is provided. Customers or potential customers may bid on gift certificates redeemable at restaurants during a predetermined time. Users may register with the system and provide identification and demographic information which may be used by restaurants for targeted marketing strategies, promotions, and special offers. The system may include a registration module, an auction module, a restaurant guide module, a restaurant manager module, rewards and referral center module, restaurant reservation module, and advertisement displays.
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Citations
48 Claims
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1. A method for enabling one or more users to request incentives to dine at one or more user selected restaurants, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a web site for receiving requests from users for incentives for dining at one or more user selected restaurants, the request including one or more user specified dining parameters;
processing the one or more incentive requests to dynamically determine for an individual user whether incentives should be provided to the user, the determination being made based on at least the user specified dining parameters and one or more restaurant specified business rules;
providing a response to the user indicating if any incentives are being offered to the user by the one or more restaurants; and
receiving at the web site a selection from the user for an offered incentive. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
enabling the one or more users to pay with a registered mode of securing a payment; and
crediting the mode of securing a payment with the incentive.
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15. The method of claim 14 wherein the fulfillment process is capable of tracking one or more items purchased via a registered mode of securing payment.
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16. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of redeeming one or more reward points wherein the cash value associated with the one or more reward points is credited to the user.
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17. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of processing the incentive requests further comprises the step of determining a maximum discount amount.
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18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of determining an adjusted maximum discount by multiplying the maximum discount amount with a restaurant defined multiplier.
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19. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of processing the incentive requests further comprises the step of matching customer profile information to one or more restaurant ranked target factors.
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20. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of determining a base discount percentage.
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21. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of processing the incentive requests further comprises the step of adjusting a discount percentage for restaurant defined competitors.
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22. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of processing the incentive requests further comprises the step of determining a minimum spend amount.
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23. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of processing the incentive requests further comprises the step of enabling the user to enter an alternate minimum spend amount.
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24. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of adjusting the incentive discount by a restaurant defined factor to compensate for the alternate minimum spend amount.
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25. A system for enabling one or more users to request incentives to dine at one or more user selected restaurants, the system comprising:
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a web site for receiving requests from users for incentives for dining at one or more user selected restaurants, the request including one or more user specified dining parameters;
a processor for processing the one or more incentive requests to dynamically determine for an individual user whether incentives should be provided to the user, the determination being based on at least the user specified dining parameters and one or more restaurant specified business rules;
a response means for providing a response to the user indicating if any incentives are being offered to the user by the one or more restaurants; and
a receiving means for receiving at the web site a selection from the user for an offered incentive. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
pay module for enabling the one or more users to pay with a registered mode of securing a payment; and
credit module for crediting the mode of securing a payment with the incentive.
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39. The system of claim 38 wherein the fulfillment module is capable of tracking one or more items purchased via a registered mode of securing payment.
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40. The system of claim 38 further comprising a redemption module for redeeming one or more reward points wherein the cash value associated with the one or more reward points is credited to the user.
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41. The system of claim 25 wherein the processor for processing the incentive requests further comprises means for determining a maximum discount amount.
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42. The system of claim 41 further comprising means for determining an adjusted maximum discount by multiplying the maximum discount amount with a restaurant defined multiplier.
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43. The system of claim 25 wherein the processor for processing the incentive requests further comprises means for matching customer profile information to one or more restaurant ranked target factors.
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44. The system of claim 43 further comprises means for determining a base discount percentage.
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45. The system of claim 25 wherein the processor for processing the incentive requests further comprises means for adjusting a discount percentage for restaurant defined competitors.
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46. The system of claim 25 wherein the processor for processing the incentive requests further comprises means for determining a minimum spend amount.
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47. The system of claim 25 wherein the processor for processing the incentive requests further comprises means for enabling the user to enter an alternate minimum spend amount.
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48. The system of claim 47 further comprising means for adjusting the incentive discount by a restaurant defined factor to compensate for the alternate minimum spend amount.
Specification