System and method for providing options on products including flights

• US 7,983,956 B1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 07/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tenon & Groove LLC
• Original Assignee: Sachin Goel
• Inventors: Goel, Sachin
• Primary Examiner(s): ALLEN, WILLIAM J
• Application Number:
  US11/981,719
• Time in Patent Office: 1,357 Days
• Field of Search: 705 5- 6, 705 26- 27, 705 261- 272, 705/80
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• 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 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• 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 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 system to provide options on products, comprising:

a. a data processor adapted by the execution of stored program instructions to receive and store, in a computer readable data store, data with respect to m products offered by a company to a customer, having at least one corresponding option for selection, definition and utilization of n of said m products, wherein m is greater than or equal to 2 and n is less than or equal to m;

b. a data processor adapted by the execution of stored program instructions to receive at least one input for at least one of said options and to select a set of said n products, where each of said selected products is available for utilization after it is defined in subsequent interaction between the company and the customer, provided specified conditions are satisfied;

c. a data processor adapted by the execution of stored program instructions to record the-information characterizing said option in a computer readable data store;

d. a data processor adapted by the execution of stored program instructions to receive at least one input to define one or more, but less than or equal to n, products for utilization among said selected products;

e. a data processor adapted by the execution of stored program instructions to record information pertaining to said defined products and their utilization in a computer readable data store;

f. a data processor adapted by the execution of stored program instructions to repeat the process of (b); and

g. a data processor adapted by the execution of stored program instructions to repeat the process of (d) to permit definition of products in those sets until the n products have been defined.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said data store is adapted to continue to update the data stored on said data store for any subsequent interaction after a first execution of step b.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein in at least one subsequent interaction, the customer defines the product.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein in at least one subsequent interaction, the company defines the product.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein in at least one subsequent interaction, an entity other than the company and the customer defines the product.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein at least two of said data processors are a same processor.

7. A computer-implemented method to provide options on products, comprising:

a. operating a data processor, adapted by the execution of stored program instructions, to receive and store data with respect to m products offered by a company to a customer, having at least one corresponding option for selection, definition and utilization of n of said m products, in a computer readable data store, where m is greater than or equal to 2 and n is less than or equal to m;

b. operating a data processor, adapted by the execution of stored program instructions, to receive at least one input for at least one of said options and to select a set of said n products, where each of said selected products is made available for utilization after each of said n products is defined in a plurality of subsequent interactions between the company and the customer responsive to satisfaction of specified conditions;

c. recording information characterizing said option in a computer readable data store;

d. operating a data processor, adapted by the execution of stored program instructions, to receive at least one input to define one or more, but less than or equal to n, products for utilization among said selected products;

e. recording said defined products in a computer readable data store; and

f. repeating step b to select one or more subsequent sets and repeating step d to permit definition of products in those sets, the repetition ending in response to definition of the n products.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said step of recording the defined products includes updating data stored on said data store with each subsequent interaction.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein in at least one subsequent interaction, the customer defines the product.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein in at least one subsequent interaction, the company defines the product.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein in at least one subsequent interaction, an entity other than the company and the customer defines the product.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein at least two of said data processors are a same processor.

13. The method of claim 7 wherein said data stores are a single data store.

14. The method of claim 7 wherein said subsequent interaction is an implicit interaction.

15. The method of claim 7 wherein said m products are from more than one company.

16. The method of claim 7 wherein said company is not the seller of said product.

17. The method of claim 7 wherein the data processor adapted by the execution of stored program instructions to receive at least one input for said at least one option further is adapted to permit the definition of said n products to be modified during a said subsequent interaction.

18. A computer-implemented method to provide options on flights, comprising:

a. operating a data processor, adapted by the execution of stored program instructions, to receive and store data with respect to m flights offered by airline to a customer, having at least one corresponding option for selection, definition and utilization of n of said m products, in a computer readable data store, where m is greater than or equal to 2 and n is less than or equal to m;

b. operating a data processor, adapted by the execution of stored program instructions, to receive at least one input for said at least one options and to select a set of said n flights, each of said n flights available for utilization after each of said flights is defined in a plurality of subsequent interactions between the airline and the customer in relation to said option, responsive to satisfaction of specified conditions;

c. recording information characterizing said option in a computer readable data store;

d. operating a data processor, adapted by the execution of stored program instructions, to receive at least one input to define one or more, but less than or equal to n, of said selected flights for utilization;

e. recording said defined flights in a computer readable data store; and

f. repeating step b to select one or more subsequent sets and repeating step d to permit definition of flights in those sets, the repetition ending responsive to the n flights having been defined.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said step of recording the information pertaining to said defined flights updates the data store for each said interaction.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein at least two of said data processors are a same processor.