System and method for inverted promotions
First Claim
1. A computer program product comprising non-transitory computer readable medium containing computer executable code that when executed by a computer performs operations comprising:
- storing a first table of prices for a plurality of items for all consumers;
storing a second table of prices for a first set of items selected from the plurality of items, wherein the second table is associated with a first set of consumers;
storing a third table of prices for a second set of items selected from the plurality of items, wherein the third table is associated with a second set of consumers;
providing at least one of the following;
a price for a first set selected item from the second table to the first set of consumers when an entry in the second table for the first set selected item is non-zero;
a price for a second set selected item from the third table to the second set of consumers when an entry in the second table for the second set selected item is zero;
a lower price of two prices for an item having non-zero entries in both second and third tables to the second set of selected consumers;
a price for an item from the first table to the second set of consumers when there is no entry for the item in the second table; and
a price for an item from the first table to consumers who are not members of the first and second set of consumers;
whereby different prices for items can be provided to the first and second sets of selected consumers.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of extending promotional discounts and special prices on items for sale to identified consumers. After the identification of a consumer by a unique identifier; a selected item is promoted with a discount or special price to the identified consumer. The discount or special price is granted upon a purchase of the item by the identified consumer prior to the withdrawal or termination of the promotion to the identified consumer. The withdrawal or termination of the promotion is held in abeyance upon an acknowledgment of the promotion by the identified consumer. In other words, the identified consumer must take specific action to prevent a promotional discount from being withdrawn. This inverted promotion provides for greater incentives for the consumer to provide information about his or her purchasing habits.
68 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A computer program product comprising non-transitory computer readable medium containing computer executable code that when executed by a computer performs operations comprising:
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storing a first table of prices for a plurality of items for all consumers; storing a second table of prices for a first set of items selected from the plurality of items, wherein the second table is associated with a first set of consumers; storing a third table of prices for a second set of items selected from the plurality of items, wherein the third table is associated with a second set of consumers; providing at least one of the following; a price for a first set selected item from the second table to the first set of consumers when an entry in the second table for the first set selected item is non-zero; a price for a second set selected item from the third table to the second set of consumers when an entry in the second table for the second set selected item is zero; a lower price of two prices for an item having non-zero entries in both second and third tables to the second set of selected consumers; a price for an item from the first table to the second set of consumers when there is no entry for the item in the second table; and a price for an item from the first table to consumers who are not members of the first and second set of consumers; whereby different prices for items can be provided to the first and second sets of selected consumers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A computer program product comprising non-transitory computer readable medium containing computer executable code that when executed by a computer performs operations comprising:
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storing a first table of prices for a plurality of items for all consumers; storing a second table of discounted prices for a first set of items selected from the plurality of items, wherein the second table is associated with a first set of consumers; storing a third table of discounted prices for a second set of items selected from the plurality of items, wherein the third table is associated with a second set of consumers; providing at least one of the following; a discounted price for a first set selected item from the second table to the first set of consumers when an entry in the second table for the first set item is non-zero; a discounted price for a second set selected item from the third table to the second set of consumers when an entry in the second table for the second set item is zero; a lower price of two discounted prices for an item having non-zero entries in both second and third tables to the second set of selected consumers; a price for an item from the first table to the second set of consumers when there is no entry for the item in the second table; and a price from the first table to consumers who are not members of the first and second set of consumers; whereby different discounted prices can be provided to the first and second set of selected consumers. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. For a computer network system having a first table of prices for a plurality of items for all consumers and having a second table of prices for a first set of items selected from the plurality of items for a first set of consumers, a method for providing different prices to different sets of consumers comprising:
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storing a third table of prices for a second set of items selected from the plurality of items, wherein the third table is associated with a second set of consumers; providing, by a computer processor, at least one of the following; a price for a first set selected item from the second table to the first set of consumers when an entry in the second table for the first set selected item is non-zero; a price for a second set selected item from the third table to the second set of consumers when an entry in the second table for the second set item is zero; a lower price of two prices for an item having non-zero entries in both second and third tables to the second set of selected consumers; a price for an item from the first table to the second set of consumers when there is no entry for the item in the second table; and a price for an item from the first table to consumers who are not members of the first and second set of consumers; whereby different prices for items can be provided to the first and second set of selected consumers. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. For a computer network system having a first table of prices for a plurality of items for all consumers and having a second table of prices for a first set of items selected from the plurality of items for a first set of selected consumers, a method of providing prices to different sets of consumers comprising:
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setting entries in the second table for all other items in the first table from the plurality of items to zero; storing a third table of prices for a second set of items selected from the plurality of items, wherein the third table is associated with a second set of consumers; providing, by a computer processor at least one of the following; a price for a first set selected item from the second table to the first set of consumers when an entry in the second table for the first set selected item is non-zero; a price for a second set selected item from the third table to the second set of consumers when an entry in the second table for the second set selected item is zero; a lower price of two prices for an item having non-zero entries in both second and third tables to the second set of selected consumers; a price for an item from the first table to the second set of consumers when there is no entry for the item in the second table; and a price the first table to consumers who are not members of the first and second set of consumers from; whereby different prices for items can be provided to the first and second sets of selected consumers. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A computer system for providing different prices for items to different sets of selected consumers, comprising:
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at least one processor; a computer-readable memory having computer-executable code, the computer-readable memory coupled to the at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor when executing the computer-executable code performs operations comprising; storing a first table of prices for a plurality of items for all consumers; storing a second table of prices for a first set of items selected from the plurality of items, wherein the second table is associated with a first set of consumers; storing a third table of prices for a second set of items selected from the plurality of items, wherein the third table is associated with a second set of consumers; providing at least one of the following; a price for a first set selected item from the second table to the first set of consumers when an entry in the second table for the first set selected item is non-zero; a price for a second set selected item from the third table to the second set of consumers when an entry in the second table for the second set selected item is zero; a lower price of two prices for an item having non-zero entries in both second and third tables to the second set of selected consumers; a price for an item from the first table to the second set of consumers when there is no entry for the item in the second table; and a price for an item from the first table to consumers who are not members of the first and second set of consumers; whereby different prices for items can be provided to the first and second sets of selected consumers. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification