System and method for conducting sales
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- receiving an inquiry with a parameter from a user, wherein the inquiry is associated with a sale of an item;
identifying, by a processor, a discount item that satisfies the inquiry, the discount item having a discount price;
identifying a comparable item for the discount item at a nondiscount rate using real-time data wherein the comparable item is not available for sale;
identifying, by the processor, a sales opacity scale, wherein the sales opacity scale is determined independent of input from the user, wherein the sales opacity scale is associated with how much information is presented about the discount item;
presenting the discount price and a comparable group to the user, the comparable group comprising the discount item presented according to an opacity level based on the sales opacity scale and the comparable item to yield a presented comparable group, wherein the presented comparable group does not identify which item of the comparable group is available at the discount price;
receiving from the user a commitment to purchase based on the presented comparable group; and
disclosing the discount item to the user after receiving the commitment.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for conducting sales. A system configured to practice the method receives an inquiry with at least one parameter from a user associated with a sale of an item. The system identifies one or more discount items that satisfy the inquiry and filters the one or more discount items based on a time-sensitive sales opacity scale. The system identifies comparable items for each discount item at nondiscount rates dynamically using real-time data and presents one or more comparable groups to the user, each comparable group including one filtered discount item and respective comparable items. Then the system advances the sale of the discount item based on user acceptance of one of the presented one or more comparable groups.
25 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving an inquiry with a parameter from a user, wherein the inquiry is associated with a sale of an item; identifying, by a processor, a discount item that satisfies the inquiry, the discount item having a discount price; identifying a comparable item for the discount item at a nondiscount rate using real-time data wherein the comparable item is not available for sale; identifying, by the processor, a sales opacity scale, wherein the sales opacity scale is determined independent of input from the user, wherein the sales opacity scale is associated with how much information is presented about the discount item; presenting the discount price and a comparable group to the user, the comparable group comprising the discount item presented according to an opacity level based on the sales opacity scale and the comparable item to yield a presented comparable group, wherein the presented comparable group does not identify which item of the comparable group is available at the discount price; receiving from the user a commitment to purchase based on the presented comparable group; and disclosing the discount item to the user after receiving the commitment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for conducting sales, the system comprising:
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a processor; and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored therein instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising; receiving an inquiry with a parameter from a user, wherein the inquiry is associated with a sale of an item; identifying a discount item that satisfies the inquiry, the discount item having a discount price; identifying a comparable item for the discount item at a nondiscount rate using real-time data, wherein the comparable item is not available for sale; identifying a sales opacity scale, wherein the sales opacity scale is determined independent of input from the user, wherein the sales opacity scale is associated with how much information is presented about the discount item; presenting the discount price and a comparable group to the user, the comparable group comprising the discount item presented according to an opacity level based on the sales opacity scale and comparable item to yield a presented comparable group, wherein the presented comparable group does not identify which item of the comparable group is available at the discount price; receiving from the user a commitment to purchase based on the presented comparable group; and disclosing the discount item to the user after receiving the commitment. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored therein instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:
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receiving an inquiry with a parameter from a user, wherein the inquiry is associated with a sale of an item; identifying a discount item that satisfies the inquiry, the discount item having a discount price; identifying a comparable item for the discount item at a nondiscount rate using real-time data, wherein the comparable item is not available for sale; identifying a sales opacity scale, wherein the sales opacity scale is determined independent of input from the user, wherein the sales opacity scale is associated with how much information is presented about the discount item; presenting the discount price and a comparable group to the user, the comparable group comprising the discount item presented according to an opacity level based on the sales opacity scale and the comparable item to yield a presented comparable group, wherein the presented comparable group does not identify which item of the comparable group is available at the discount price; receiving from the user a commitment to purchase based on the presented comparable group; and disclosing the discount item to the user after receiving the commitment. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification