System and method for automated proposal evaluation

• US 8,131,593 B1
• Filed: 07/20/2004
• Issued: 03/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Airlines Incorporated (American Airlines Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: American Airlines Incorporated (American Airlines Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wells, Mayda Ann, Pearson, Jay, Hering, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): VANDERHORST, MARIA VICTORIA
• Application Number:
  US10/894,487
• Time in Patent Office: 2,786 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14, 705/1, 705/50, 705/51
• US Class Current: 705/14.5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0252 based on events or environment, e.g. weather or festivals

Abstract

A computer based method for automated submission and evaluation of business proposals by providing a database mutually accessible to a proposal sponsor and at least one requesting user community, communicating with the user community and interactively requesting one or more media or promotional elements for evaluation, populating the database with one or more received media or promotional elements, calculating a proposal sponsor payment value based upon received media or promotional elements according to schema provided by the proposal sponsor, comparing the calculated proposal sponsor payment value of with at least one proposal recommendation threshold value, and associating the comparison result with a proposal decision conclusion selected from one of the group of conclusions including, recommended, not recommended, and additional information required.

Claims

1. A computer based method for automated submission and evaluation of business proposals comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a database mutually accessible to a proposal sponsor and at least one requesting user community;

(b) communicating with a uniquely identifiable user community and interactively requesting one or more media or promotional elements for evaluation;

(c) recognizing and accepting from a uniquely identifiable user community one or more media and promotional elements for evaluation;

(d) populating said database with a first set of proposal values when identified by a uniquely identifiable user community, said proposal first set values selected from a group of proposed media elements, including newspaper, magazine, television, radio, out of home media and online advertising elements;

(e) populating said database with a second set of proposal elements when identified by a uniquely identifiable user community, said proposal second set values selected from a group of proposed promotional elements including out of home media, program events, direct marketing, event giveaways, event tickets and entertainment elements;

(f) calculating a proposal sponsor payment value based upon populated media elements of (d) and populated promotional elements of (e) according to schema provided by a proposal sponsor;

(g) comparing the calculated entity payment value of (f) with at least one proposal recommendation threshold value;

(h) associating the comparison result of (g) with a decision conclusion selected from one of a group of conclusions including, recommended, not recommended, and additional information required;

(i) populating, by a processor, the database of (a) with the decision conclusion derived in (h).

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the database population of claim 1(i) occurs within a second database exclusive of the database claimed in 1(a).

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising communicating the association result of 1(h) with at least one proposal sponsor.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising communicating the association result of 1(h) with at least one requesting user community.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising communicating the association result of 1(h) with at least one requesting user community and at least one proposal sponsor.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the media element identified in claim 1(d) is television and further comprises a uniquely identifiable user community providing at least one media sub-element selected from a group of sub-elements including, local network, ad length, total spots, dates, daypart rating, number of placements, and percent proposal sponsor message;

calculating a cost per spot proposal value determined from the equation

Average Market Cost Per Point (CPP)×

Daypart Rating=Cost Per Spot (CPS); and

,

calculating a TV value proposal determined from the equation;

TV Value=(Number of Spots×

CPS)×

% Message.

7. A computer based method for automated submission and evaluation of business proposals comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a database mutually accessible to a proposal sponsor commercially engaged within the travel industry and at least one requesting user community;

(b) communicating with a uniquely identifiable user community and interactively requesting one or more media or promotional elements for evaluation;

(c) recognizing and accepting from a uniquely identifiable user community one or more media and promotional elements for evaluation;

(d) populating said database with a first set of proposal values when identified by a uniquely identifiable user community, said proposal first set values selected from a group of proposed media elements, including newspaper, magazine, television, radio, out of home media and online advertising elements;

(e) populating said database with a second set of proposal elements when identified by a uniquely identifiable user community, said proposal second set values selected from a group of proposed promotional elements including out of home media, program events, direct marketing, event giveaways, event tickets and entertainment elements;

(f) calculating a proposal sponsor payment value based upon populated media elements of (d) and populated promotional elements of (e) according to schema provided by a proposal sponsor;

(g) comparing the calculated entity payment value of (f) with at least one proposal recommendation threshold value;

(h) associating the comparison result of (g) with a decision conclusion selected from one of a group of conclusions including, recommended, not recommended, and additional information required;

(i) populating, by a processor, the database of (a) with the decision conclusion derived in (h).

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the proposal sponsor engaged with the travel industry is an airline.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the database population of claim 7(i) occurs within a second database exclusive of the database claimed in 1(a).

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising communicating the association result of 7(h) with at least one travel industry proposal sponsor.

11. The method of claim 7 further comprising communicating the association result of 7(h) with at least one requesting user community.

12. The method of claim 7 further comprising communicating the association result of 7(h) with at least one requesting user community and at least one travel industry proposal sponsor.

13. The method of claim 7 wherein the media element identified in claim 7(d) is television and further comprises a uniquely identifiable user community providing at least one media sub-element selected from a group of sub-elements including, local network, ad length, total spots, dates, daypart rating, number of placements, and percent proposal sponsor message;

calculating a cost per spot proposal value determined from the equation

Average Market Cost Per Point (CPP)×

Daypart Rating=Cost Per Spot (CPS); and

,

calculating a TV value proposal determined from the equation;

TV Value=(Number of Spots×

CPS)×

% Message.

14. A computer based method for automated submission and evaluation of business proposals comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a database mutually accessible to a commercial airline proposal sponsor and at least one requesting user community;

(b) communicating with a uniquely identifiable user community and interactively requesting one or more media or promotional elements for evaluation;

(c) recognizing and accepting from a uniquely identifiable user community one or more media and promotional elements for evaluation;

(d) populating said database with a first set of proposal values when identified by a uniquely identifiable user community, said proposal first set values selected from a group of proposed media elements, including newspaper, magazine, television, radio, out of home media and online advertising elements;

(e) populating said database with a second set of proposal elements when identified by a uniquely identifiable user community, said proposal second set values selected from a group of proposed promotional elements including out of home media, program events, direct marketing, event giveaways, event tickets and entertainment elements;

(f) calculating a proposal sponsor payment value based upon populated media elements of (d) and populated promotional elements of (e) according to schema provided by a proposal sponsor;

(g) comparing the calculated entity payment value of (f) with at least one proposal recommendation threshold value;

(h) associating the comparison result of (g) with a decision conclusion selected from one of a group of conclusions including, recommended, not recommended, and additional information required;

(i) populating, by a processor, the database of (a) with the decision conclusion derived in (h).

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the database population of claim 14(i) occurs within a second database exclusive of the database claimed in 14(a).

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising communicating the association result of 14(h) with at least one proposal sponsor.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising communicating the association result of 14(h) with at least one requesting user community.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising communicating the association result of 14(h) with at least one requesting user community and at least one proposal sponsor.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the media element identified in claim 14(d) is television and further comprises a uniquely identifiable user community providing at least one media sub-element selected from a group of sub-elements including, local network, ad length, total spots, dates, daypart rating, number of placements, and percent proposal sponsor message;

calculating a cost per spot proposal value determined from the equation

Average Market Cost Per Point (CPP)×

Daypart Rating=Cost Per Spot (CPS); and

,

calculating a TV value proposal determined from the equation;

TV Value=(Number of Spots×

CPS)×

% Message.