Computer-implemented method to provide options on products to enhance customer experience

• US 7,424,449 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2006
• Issued: 09/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tenon & Groove LLC
• Original Assignee: Sachin Goel
• Inventors: Goel, Sachin
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith; Jeffrey A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Allen; William J.
• Application Number:
  US11/506,451
• Publication Number:
  US 20070244767A1
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705 5- 6, 705 26- 27
• US Class Current: 705/26.7
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0244 Optimization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0617 Representative agent
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

A computer-implemented system and method to provide options on products to enhance customers'"'"' experience. A computer-implemented system is operated that delivers to a customer an option to utilize up to n of m selected products, where m and n are whole numbers and n is less than or equal to m. Information is recorded in a data store, pertaining to said option. In addition, a system is operated to define each of the n chosen products, whereby after each of the n chosen products is defined, the customer can utilize said chosen product. The information pertaining to said defined products is recorded in a data store.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method to provide options on products to enhance customers'"'"' experience, comprising:

a. operating a computer-implemented system that delivers a first option to at least a first customer to utilize up to n of m selected products for said first customer, where

i. m and n are whole numbers, and

ii. n<

=m;

b. operating a computer-implemented system that delivers a second option, the second option being different from the first option and complementary in nature to the first option, to at least a second customer to utilize up to k of p selected products, where

i. k and p are whole numbers, and

ii. k<

=p;

c. recording the information pertaining to said options in a data store;

d. operating a system to define each of the k chosen products, whereby after each of the k chosen products is defined, said second customer can utilize said chosen product;

e. operating a system wherein a company defines t chosen product(s) for said first customer after each of the said k chosen products is defined, comprising;

i. after each of said t products is defined, said first customer can utilize said defined product, where t is a whole number less than or equal to n; and

f. recording the information pertaining to said defined products in a data store.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said company is an airline.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said company is not the seller of any of said products.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said company offers at least one of said options.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said company operates at least one of said systems.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one entity other than said company operates at least one of said systems.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said systems for delivering said first and second options operate independently of each other.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said systems for delivering said first and second options do not operate independently of each other.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein acts a-to-f are performed for a multiplicity of at least one of said first or second customers and further including combining together at least one of each of said first and second customers to formulate at least one group with at least one complementary set of options.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of said m or p products is available for use by said company at least after delivery of any of said first or second options.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein operating the system to define said k chosen products includes at least one of said company or an entity other than said company defining, at one or more times, at least one of said k chosen products.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein operating the system to define said chosen k products includes said second customer defining, at one or more times, at least one of said k chosen products.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of said company or an entity other than said company selects, at one or more times, at least one of said m or p products.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein said first customer selects, at one or more times, at least one of said m products.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein said second customer selects, at one or more times, at least one of said p products.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein said company receives from at least one of said first or second customers, at one or more times, an indication of one or more terms and conditions associated with said first or second options, respectively.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein said company delivers to at least one of said first or second customers, at one or more times, one or more terms and conditions associated with said first or second options, respectively.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein said first and second customer can be same.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein none of said options include a notification deadline condition.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of said options include at least one notification deadline condition.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said notification deadline condition is different for said first and second options.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein said company allocates at least one product to at least one entity other than said company, and said entity delivers at least one of said first or second options on at least one of said allocated products.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein at least two of said systems are same.

24. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of said n or k chosen products includes at least one product other than said m or p products, respectively.