System and method for availability-based limited-time offerings and transactions
First Claim
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1. A computer implemented method comprising:
- receiving, via a computing device, an offer that has an explicit or implicit expiration;
determining, via a set of instructions executed on a machine, a likelihood of accepting the offer for each of a plurality of customers, the likelihood being determined by applying predetermined rules based on the characteristics of the offer and information on customers;
selecting a set of customers from the plurality of customers based on the likelihood of accepting the offer and predetermined criteria;
ranking the selected customers based on the likelihood of accepting the offer;
sequentially providing the offer to at least one or more of the selected customers in the order of the ranking via one of a plurality of various transmission media which is selected based on a customer interest threshold;
guaranteeing availability of the offer to the one or more selected customers by limiting the offer to a number of customers matching a number of products or services available;
providing a next customer in the sequence the offer when the offer expires for or is rejected by the at least one of the selected customers.
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Abstract
System and method for availability based on limited-time offerings and transactions. One embodiment of the present invention provides a system and method that, based on a set of known preferences and historic transactions with customers, culls from a customer database those customers most likely to close a transaction in a short time. The selected customers are notified of the offer, and the system processes the customers responses in a timely manner, and thus allow fleeting inventories to be sold off before they expire.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A computer implemented method comprising:
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receiving, via a computing device, an offer that has an explicit or implicit expiration; determining, via a set of instructions executed on a machine, a likelihood of accepting the offer for each of a plurality of customers, the likelihood being determined by applying predetermined rules based on the characteristics of the offer and information on customers; selecting a set of customers from the plurality of customers based on the likelihood of accepting the offer and predetermined criteria; ranking the selected customers based on the likelihood of accepting the offer; sequentially providing the offer to at least one or more of the selected customers in the order of the ranking via one of a plurality of various transmission media which is selected based on a customer interest threshold; guaranteeing availability of the offer to the one or more selected customers by limiting the offer to a number of customers matching a number of products or services available; providing a next customer in the sequence the offer when the offer expires for or is rejected by the at least one of the selected customers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A tangible computer readable medium that provides instructions that when executed by a machine will cause said machine to perform operations comprising:
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receiving, via a computing device, an offer that has an explicit or implicit expiration; determining a likelihood of accepting the offer for each of a plurality of customers, the likelihood being determined by applying predetermined rules based on the characteristics of the offer and information on customers; selecting a set of customers from the plurality of customers based on the likelihood of accepting the offer and predetermined criteria; ranking the selected customers based on the likelihood of accepting the offer; sequentially providing the offer to at least one or more of the selected customers in the order of the ranking via one of a plurality of various transmission media which is selected based on a customer interest threshold; guaranteeing availability of the offer to the one or more selected customers by limiting the offer to a number of customers matching a number of products or services available; providing a next customer in the sequence the offer when the offer expires for or is rejected by the at least one of the selected customers. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A computer system comprising at least one server configured for:
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receiving, via a computing device, an offer that has an explicit or implicit expiration; determining a likelihood of accepting the offer for each of a plurality of customers, the likelihood being determined by applying predetermined rules based on the characteristics of the offer and information on customers; selecting a set of customers from the plurality of customers based on the likelihood of accepting the offer and predetermined criteria; ranking the selected customers based on the likelihood of accepting the offer; sequentially providing the offer to at least one or more of the selected customers in the order of the ranking via one of a plurality of various transmission media which is selected based on a customer interest threshold; guaranteeing availability of the offer to the one or more selected customers by limiting the offer to a number of customers matching a number of products or services available; providing a next customer in the sequence the offer when the offer expires for or is rejected by the at least one of the selected customers. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification