System for concurrent optimization of business economics and customer value

• US 8,165,920 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tenon & Groove LLC
• Original Assignee: Tenon & Groove LLC
• Inventors: Goel, Sachin
• Primary Examiner(s): Allen, Will
• Application Number:
  US11/981,817
• Publication Number:
  US 20080262899A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,637 Days
• Field of Search: 705 5- 6, 705 26- 27, 705 261- 272
• 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 30/0241 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 system to provide options on products, comprising:

a. a data processor being adapted to store a data structure in a data store, wherein the data structure includes data representing a value that is realized on exercising at least one option which provides to the option holder a right exercisable upon occurrence of a specified condition to shift at least one first customer from a first previously selected product to at least one first other product, in response to at least one second customer being shifted from a second previously selected product to at least one second other product or products;

b. a data processor being adapted to receive at least one input to receive and process said data and to determine from the possible combinations of customers, at least one customer who may be shifted;

c. a data processor being adapted to receive at least one input to exercise at least one said option and shift said at least one first customer who is to be shifted in response thereto; and

d. a data processor being adapted to record information pertaining to said shifting of the at least one first customer who is to be shifted, in a data store.

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

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

a. via a data processor, storing a data structure in a data store, the data structure including data representing, for each of one or more customers that may be shifted to one or more products from one or more previously selected products, a value that is realized on exercising at least one option which provides to the option holder a right exercisable upon occurrence of a specified condition to shift at least one first customer from a first previously selected product to at least one first other product, in response to at least one second customer being shifted, from a second previously selected product to at least one second other product or products;

b. via a data processor, receiving and processing said data to determine from the possible combinations of customers associated with options, at least one customer who may be shifted;

c. operating a data processor to receive at least one input to exercise at least one said option and shift said set at least one first customer who is to be shifted, wherein responsive to shifting one or more of said customers from one or more corresponding previously selected products, at least one product becomes available; and

d. recording the information pertaining to said shifting of the at least one first customers who is to be shifted, in a computer-readable data store.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein at least two of said data processors are a same processor.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein on detecting the occurrence of at least one event, the act of processing data to determine a set of customers comprises executing at least one event response algorithm which determines a set of customers possessing options making them eligible to be shifted to one or more products;

and wherein shifting at least one customer of said set of customers creates further product availability.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the shifting of said set of customers involves shifting of more than one customer.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein said shifting comprises shifting at least a first customer to at least a first product after at least a second customer is shifted from one of the first products to at least a second product.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein, in turn, each other customer in the set of customers is shifted until the last customer in the set is shifted.

9. The method of claim 3 wherein said customer is shifted to more than one product.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said products include at least one constrained product which cannot be fully utilized.

11. The method of claim 3 wherein said customer is shifted to at least one or more products belonging to provider of said option.

12. The method of claim 3 wherein said customer is shifted to at least one or more products belonging to an entity other than the provider of said option.

13. The method of claim 3 wherein said value includes cost savings for the provider of said option.

14. The method of claim 3 wherein shifting at least one set of customers increases value for at least one of the customer, the provider of said options and at least an entity other than the provider of said options.

15. The method of claim 3 wherein said shifting includes shifting said customer to a higher ranked product.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said shifting includes shifting said customer to a higher ranked product as determined by said customer.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein said shifting includes shifting said customer to a higher ranked product as determined by the provider of said options.

18. The method of claim 15, further including, upon shifting to a higher to a higher ranked product, the company enforcing a right to collect a receive for shifting the customer to said higher ranked product.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the amount of the payment is priced dynamically priced.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the amount of the payment is determined by bidding from customers.

21. The method of claim 15, further including requiring and receiving from a customer an indication of a price the customer is willing to pay for shifting to said higher ranked product.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the said price may be modified by the customer up to a specified notification date.

23. The method of claim 3 wherein said company is an airline.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein said shifting comprises shifting the customer to a higher ranked cabin.