Methods and systems for offering bundled goods and services

• US 7,324,963 B1
• Filed: 11/08/2001
• Issued: 01/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: At&T Delaware Intellectual Property, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ruckart, John
• Primary Examiner(s): FADOK, MARK A
• Application Number:
  US10/007,552
• Time in Patent Office: 2,273 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14, 705/26, 705/27, 379/32.01, 379/121.01, 379/114.06, 379/114.12
• US Class Current: 705/14.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0234 Rebates after completed purchase
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

A method and system implementing a variable pricing structure that applies to goods and services available from a vendor, and rewards customers who spend more is described. Customers can select a combination of the offered goods and services offered by a vendor, rather than choosing from among a few, pre-bundled packages. A progressive discount is employed in the determination of the price of the combination, such that increasing the number of goods or services, or increasing the level of service results in greater discounts. The offering price of this combination is conveyed to the customer, and opportunities to make changes to the selected combination are provided. The opportunity to initiate the purchase of the selected combination is also provided.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for conveying sales options comprising:

offering a plurality of telecommunications related products to a customer;

receiving an initial selection of j products from the customer;

determining an offering price for the selection, employing a progressive discount and comprising the steps of;

accessing a predetermined pricing table having a product number, a product base price, and a discount rate to determine a product price wherein the selection comprises a plurality of products; and

summing the product prices employing the formula OP=Σ

_i=1ⁿ S_iP_i (1−

(A_j)_i) where;

OP is the offering price;

i is the product number;

S_i is a switch that has a value of 1 if the i^th product is selected, and a value of 0 if the i^th product is not selected;

P_i is the base price of the i^th product;

A_j is the discount rate, where “

j”

>

1 and represents the number of selected products; and

(A_j)_i is the discount rate for the i^th product at the j^th number of selected products;

presenting the offering price to the customer;

providing an opportunity for the customer to upgrade the initial selection to a changed selection that includes j+1 products;

upon the customer upgrading the selection, receiving the customer'"'"'s changed selection;

determining a new offering price for the customer'"'"'s changed selection;

providing to the customer an incremental upgrade price of the changed selection in addition to the new offering price for the customer'"'"'s changed selection; and

presenting the new offering price to the customer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the progressive discount comprises:

providing a greater discount upon selection of at least one of a greater number and a higher level of products.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving information about customer usage of the plurality of products; and

recommending products based on received information about customer usage.