METHOD OF USING A NETWORK OF COMPUTERS TO CONTROL THE RESERVATION OR SALE OF AVAILABLE LIMITED FIXED OR TIME SENSITIVE INVENTORY BETWEEN A SELLER INTERFACE AND A BUYER INTERFACE USING TWO WAY COMMUNICATIONS

• US 6,873,969 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2002
• Issued: 03/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lucinda Stone, Michael A. Dean
• Original Assignee: Lucinda Stone, Michael A. Dean
• Inventors: Dean, Michael A., Stone, Lucinda
• Primary Examiner(s): Jaketic, Bryan
• Application Number:
  US10/165,078
• Publication Number:
  US 20020156684A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• Field of Search: 705 26- 29, 705/5, 705/22
• US Class Current: 705/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0214 Referral reward systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0276 Advertisement creation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

The present invention is a method and apparatus that automatically updates the presentation of available limited, fixed or time sensitive inventory, for sale or reservation, on a buyer interface in a time-sensitive and time-appropriate basis. The automatic two-way network communications method of the present invention provides the necessary coordination of inventory and sales between the seller interface and the buyer interface in either real time or near real time or as delayed or batch processing. This can take place by either manual or automatic means from the invention or from third party management or inventory control software. The invention allows for a substantial reduction of the communications and computer resources necessary to control and coordinate the availability, presentation, and sales of common, unique, or time-sensitive products, goods, and services. The present invention allows for the sales process to be adjusted so as to optimize the communications and computer resources used in relationship to the sales volume and Seller, Buyer, and usage profiles.

Claims

1. A method of using a network of computers to control the reservation or sale of available limited, fixed or time sensitive inventory between at least one seller interface and at least one publicly available buyer interface comprising:

a) providing means for presenting available inventory within the seller interface;

b) providing means for seller to sell or reserve inventory available to the publicly available buyer interface;

c) providing means for buyer to reserve or purchase the inventory;

d) providing means for the seller'"'"'s sale or reservation of any inventory to cause the automatic updating of the inventory available to the publicly available buyer'"'"'s interface; and

e) providing means for the buyer'"'"'s purchase or reservation of the inventory to cause the automatic updating of the inventory available to the seller'"'"'s interface,

whereby at least one seller presents and offers inventory for reservation or sale to at least one publicly available buyer interface by which the buyer reserves or purchases the inventory and by the act of reserving or purchasing the inventory cause the seller'"'"'s interface to be automatically updated to reflect that reservation or purchase through two-way communication between the publicly available buyer interface and the seller interface of the computer network and upon the sale or reservation of any inventory by the seller, the inventory available to the publicly available buyer interface is automatically updated to reflect the sale or reservation through two-way communication between the seller interface and the publicly available buyer interface of the computer network.

2. The method of claim 1 further providing means for the updating of the seller interface in real time.

3. The method of claim 1 further providing means for the updating of the seller interface in near real time.

4. The method of claim 1 further providing means for the updating of the seller interface on a delayed or batch basis.

5. The method of claim 1 further providing means for the seller to set the method of updating the seller interface to a real time, near real time, delayed, or batch basis.

6. The method of claim 1 further providing means for automatic referral of alternative inventory controlled by seller when limited, fixed, or time sensitive inventory is requested by the buyer that is not available from the seller.

7. The method of claim 1 further providing means for automatic referral to another seller or sellers when inventory requested by the buyer is not available from the seller.

8. The method of claim 1 further providing means for updating, through two-way communication, in-house or third-party management or inventory control software in addition to the seller interface.

9. The method of claim 1 further providing means for the updating of the buyer interface in real time.

10. The method of claim 1 further providing means for the updating of both the seller and buyer interface in real time.

11. The method of claim 1 further providing means for the updating of the buyer interface in near real time.

12. The method of claim 1 further providing means for the updating of both the seller and buyer interface in near real time.

13. The method of claim 1 further providing means for the updating of the buyer interface on a delayed or batch basis.

14. The method of claim 1 further providing means for the updating of both the seller and buyer interface on a delayed or batch basis.

15. The method of claim 1 further providing means for the seller to set the method of updating the buyer interface to a real time, near real time, delayed, or batch basis.

16. The method of claim 1 further providing means for the seller to set the method of updating both the buyer and seller interface to a real time, near real time, delayed, or batch basis.

17. The method of claim 1 further providing means for the seller to update the presentation of inventory.

18. A method for using computers to control the reservation or sale of available limited, fixed or time sensitive inventory while reducing required processing resources comprising:

a) setting of total available inventory;

b) setting of notification level of total available inventory;

c) monitoring inventory levels;

d) notifying seller of sales;

e) allocating available inventory; and

f) preventing over allocation of inventory;

whereby a seller of limited, fixed or time sensitive inventory sets the total available inventory and inventory notification level thereby allowing sales to be made, prior to reaching the inventory notification level, without the updating of available inventory throughout the network of computers.

19. The method of claim 18 further providing communications allowing for on-demand or on-event transmission of information without the overhead of constant communications.

20. The method of claim 18 further providing on-demand transactions without confirming communications are allowed.

21. The method of claim 18 further providing a computer to monitor transactions and facilitate the allocation of inventory.

22. The method according to claim 18 further providing a means for a seller of goods or services to control sales and inventory with reduced processing resources without being required to maintain constant communications with points of sale.

23. The method of claim 18 further providing means for a seller of goods or services to establish a buffer inventory.

24. A method of using a network of computers to control the reservation or sale of available lodging inventory between at least one seller interface and at least one publicly available buyer interface comprising:

a) providing means for presenting available lodging inventory within the seller interface;

b) providing means for seller to sell or reserve lodging inventory available to the publicly available buyer interface;

c) providing means for buyer to reserve or purchase the lodging inventory;

d) providing means for the seller'"'"'s sale or reservation of any lodging inventory to cause the automatic updating of the inventory available to the publicly available buyer'"'"'s interface; and

e) providing means for the buyer'"'"'s purchase or reservation of the lodging inventory to cause the automatic updating of the inventory available to the seller'"'"'s interface;

whereby at least one seller presents and offers lodging inventory for reservation or sale to at least one publicly available buyer interface by which the buyer reserves or purchases the lodging inventory and by the act of reserving or purchasing the lodging inventory cause the interface to be automatically updated to reflect that reservation or purchase through two-way communication between the publicly available buyer interface and the seller interface of the computer network and upon the sale or reservation of any lodging inventory by the seller, the lodging inventory available to the publicly available buyer interface is automatically updated to reflect the sale or reservation through two-way communication between the seller interface and the publicly available buyer interface of the computer network.

25. The method of claim 24 further providing means for the updating of the seller interface in real time.

26. The method of claim 24 further providing means for the updating of the seller interface in near real time.

27. The method of claim 24 further providing means for the updating of the seller interface on a delayed or batch basis.

28. The method of claim 24 further providing means for the seller to set the method of updating the seller interface to a real time, near real time, delayed, or batch basis.

29. The method of claim 24 further providing means for automatic referral of alternative lodging inventory controlled by seller when lodging inventory is requested by the buyer that is not available from the seller.

30. The method of claim 24 further providing means for automatic referral to another seller or sellers when lodging inventory requested by the buyer is not available from the seller.

31. The method of claim 24 further providing means for updating, through two-way communication, in-house or third-party lodging management or lodging inventory control software in addition to the seller interface.

32. The method of claim 24 further providing means for the updating of the buyer interface in real time.

33. The method of claim 24 further providing means for the updating of both the seller and buyer interface in real time.

34. The method of claim 24 further providing means for the updating of the buyer interface in near real time.

35. The method of claim 24 further providing means for the updating of both the seller and buyer interface in near real time.

36. The method of claim 24 further providing means for the updating of the buyer interface on a delayed or batch basis.

37. The method of claim 24 further providing means for the updating of both the seller and buyer interface on a delayed or batch basis.

38. The method of claim 24 further providing means for the seller to set the method of updating the buyer interface to a real time, near real time, delayed, or batch basis.

39. The method of claim 24 further providing means for the seller to set the method of updating both the seller and buyer interface to a real time, near real time, delayed, or batch basis.

40. The method of claim 24 further providing means for the seller to update the presentation of inventory.