System and method for reducing excess capacity for restaurants and other industries during off-peak or other times

• US 20040215517A1
• Filed: 05/21/2004
• Published: 10/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mount Hamilton Partners, LLC (Innovation Management Sciences, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Monkeyrules.Com Corporation
• Inventors: Berean, Elayna, Chen, Dazhi
• Granted Patent: US 7,904,334 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0235 constrained by time limit or expiration date
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0259 based on store location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0275 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants

Abstract

A system and method for reducing excess capacity for restaurants and other industries during off-peak hours is provided. Customers or potential customers may bid on gift certificates redeemable at restaurants during a predetermined time. Users may register with the system and provide identification and demographic information which may be used by restaurants for targeted marketing strategies, promotions, and special offers. The system may include a registration module, an auction module, a restaurant guide module, a restaurant manager module, rewards and referral center module, restaurant reservation module, and advertisement displays.

Claims

1-48. -48. (Cancelled)

49. A system for reducing excess capacity for one or more restaurants that experience periods of peak demands and periods of non-peak demands and for collecting information about at least one user, the system comprising:

a registration module for obtaining information about at least one user and for registering the at least one user;

an incentive module for providing the at least one registered user with an opportunity to obtain an incentive for dining at the one or more restaurants, wherein the incentive is for use during non-peak demand periods; and

a storing module for storing the information obtained by the registration module about the at least one registered user, wherein the storing module provides the one or more restaurants with access to the stored information about the at least one registered user and enables the one or more restaurants to generate subsequent incentives for dining at the one or more restaurants based on the information about the at least one registered user.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein the non-peak demand period is a period that re-occurs daily.

51. The system of claim 49, wherein the incentive is one of:

a certificate giving the at least one registered user a predetermined percentage off a purchase, and

a certificate giving the at least one registered user a predetermined amount off a purchase.

52. The system of claim 49, wherein the registration module requires the at least one user to register prior to enabling the at least one user to become eligible for the opportunity to obtain an incentive for dining at the one or more restaurants.

53. The system of claim 49, wherein the registration module obtains information about the at least one user including identification information and at least one of:

restaurant preference information, and

demographic information.

54. The system of claim 49, wherein the registration module further comprises an identification information module that obtains two or more of:

a name,

an email address, and

a zip code.

55. The system of claim 49, wherein the registration module further comprises a demographic information module that obtains one or more of:

a profession,

an income,

a gender, and

an age.

56. The system of claim 49, wherein the registration module further comprises a restaurant preference module that obtains restaurant preference information from the at least one user including one or more of:

a dining frequency,

one or more favorite restaurants,

one or more favorite types of food,

a preferred price range,

a preferred location of restaurants, and

a preferred way to learn of a promotion.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein at least one of the one or more restaurants offer the at least one registered user an incentive to dine at the at least one of the one or more restaurants based on the restaurant preference information.

58. The system of claim 49, further comprising a restaurant manager module that enables the one or more restaurants to manage distribution of incentives and for providing the one or more restaurants with access to information about the at least one registered user.

59. The system of claim 49, wherein the one or more restaurants use the information about the at least one registered user to conduct user-specific promotions.

60. The system of claim 58, wherein the restaurant manager module includes an auction posting module that enables the one or more restaurants to do one or more of:

create a new auction for a discount certificate,

delete an existing auction for a discount certificate, and

modify an existing auction for a discount certificate.

61. The system of claim 59, wherein the restaurant manager module includes a “

my customers module”

that enables the one or more restaurants to view at least one of;

aggregate data on user demographics information;

aggregate data on user preferences information;

individual data on user demographics information; and

individual data on user preferences information.

62. The system of claim 61, wherein the “

my customers module”

further includes a create survey module that enables the one or more restaurants to create a survey for obtaining additional information about the at least one registered user.

63. The system of claim 61, wherein the user preferences information includes one or more of:

a frequency of dining out,

a preferred way to learn of a promotion, and

price sensitivity information.

64. The system of claim 63, wherein the one or more restaurants create a targeted promotion based on the user preferences information and the one or more restaurants communicate the promotion to selected restaurant users according the preferred way to learn of a promotion of the selected restaurant users.

65. The system of claim 61, wherein the one or more restaurants use the aggregate data on user demographics information to market incentives to a predetermined group of users.

66. The system of claim 58, wherein the restaurant manager module further includes a promotion module that enables the one or more restaurants to create targeted market strategies based on information about the at least one user.

67. The system of claim 58, wherein the restaurant manager module further includes a sales history module that enables the one or more restaurants to track sales associated with incentives.

68. The system of claim 67, wherein the sales history module tracks information about the at least one registered user that uses an incentive at a corresponding one of the one or more restaurants, wherein the information about the at least one registered user includes at least two of the following:

contact information,

biological information,

purchasing habit information, and

dining preference information.

69. The system of claim 67, wherein the sales history module tracks one or more of:

sales made to an individual user,

sales made at specified restaurant locations, and

sales made during a predetermined time period.

70. The system of claim 49, wherein the incentive module includes one or more of:

an auction module that enables the one or more restaurants to auction one or more discount certificates to registered users; and

a request module that enables the one or more restaurants to offer an incentive for dining at a corresponding one of the one or more restaurants to an individual registered user based on one or more user-specified dining parameters.

71. The system of claim 70, wherein the request module enables the corresponding one of the one or more restaurants to decide whether to offer an incentive to the individual registered user based on at least one of the following:

whether the individual registered user has dined at the corresponding one of the one or more restaurants in the past,

whether a favorite restaurant of the individual registered user is a competitor of the corresponding one of the one or more restaurants, and

a dining frequency of the individual registered user.

72. The system of claim 70, wherein the corresponding one of the one or more restaurants has at least a first location and a second location;

and wherein the request module enables the corresponding one of the one or more restaurants to provide incentives to dine at the second location in response to a request for an incentive for the first location made by the individual registered user.

73. The system of claim 70, wherein the auction module conducts a dutch auction.

74. The system of claim 70, wherein the auction module further includes a set schedule module that enables the one or more restaurants to schedule auctions for a plurality of discount certificates.

75. The system of claim 74, wherein the auctions are scheduled to occur during regularly scheduled intervals.

76. The system of claim 70, wherein the incentive module is accessed via a web-site.

77. The system of claim 70, wherein the incentive module further includes an instant purchase feature that enables the at least one registered user to purchase a discount certificate for a predetermined value that is less than a retail value of the discount certificate.

78. The system of claim 49 further comprising a restaurant guide module that provides the at least one registered user with information about the one or more restaurants.

79. The system of claim 78, wherein the restaurant guide module includes a search module that enables the at least one registered user to search for a restaurant by one or more of:

a cuisine type,

a location, and

a price range.

80. The system of claim 78, wherein the restaurant guide module includes a guide listing that includes one or more of:

a community restaurant rating; and

consumer review information.

81. The system of claim 80, wherein the restaurant guide module suggests to the at least one registered user a restaurant choice based on a similarity between preference information for the at least one registered user and preference information for other registered users that have provided consumer review information.

82. The system of claim 78, wherein the restaurant guide module includes a current auctions display module that displays auctions for discount certificates that are currently in progress.

83. The system of claim 78, wherein the restaurant guide module enables the at least one registered user to search for current auctions for discount certificates by one or more of:

a cuisine type,

a restaurant name, and

a location of restaurant.

84. The system of claim 78, wherein the restaurant guide module includes a message board.

85. The system of claim 78, wherein the restaurant guide module includes a gift center that enables the at least one registered user to purchase a gift from a selected one of the one or more restaurants.

86. The system of claim 78, wherein the restaurant guide module includes an award and referral center that provides reward incentives to registered users that provide information about a potential user.

87. The system of claim 86, wherein the reward incentives are used to obtain discount certificates.

88. The system of claim 49, wherein the system is operated on a web-site.

89. The system of claim 49, wherein a system operator bills the one or more restaurants according to a number of incentives successfully offered to the at least one registered user.

90. The system of claim 49, wherein a system operator bills the one or more restaurants for enabling the one or more restaurants to access information about the at least one registered user.

91. The system of claim 70, wherein a system operator bills the one or more restaurants according to a number of discount certificates posted for auction.

92. The system of claim 49 further comprising a redemption module that enables the at least one registered user to redeem an incentive at a corresponding one of the one or more restaurants to obtain a discount off a purchase.

93. The system of claim 92, wherein the at least one registered user registers an account in a restaurant payment processing system associated with the corresponding one of the one or more restaurants such that an amount corresponding to the incentive is credited to the registered account at a time of payment for the purchase.

94. The system of claim 92, wherein the incentive is downloaded by the at least one registered user from a web-site.

95. The system of claim 92, wherein the incentive is sent to the at least one registered user via electronic mail.

96. The system of claim 92, wherein the incentive is sent to the corresponding one of the one or more restaurants such that the at least one registered user notifies the corresponding one of the one or more restaurants at a time of payment for the purchase.

97. The system of claim 49 further comprising a restaurant on-line reservation module that enables the at least one registered user to make a reservation at a corresponding one of the one or more restaurants.

98. The system of claim 70 further comprising a restaurant on-line reservation module that enables the at least one registered user to make a reservation at a corresponding one of the one or more restaurants in response to one of the following:

being awarded a discount certificate for winning an on-line auction; and

being awarded an incentive by the request module.

99. The system of claim 49, wherein the incentive module includes a request module that enables the at least one registered user to request incentives to dine at selected ones of the one or more restaurants, the request module further comprising:

a select restaurant module that receives requests from at least one registered user for at least one incentive for dining at one or more user-selected restaurants;

a processor that processes the requests to determine whether at least one incentive should be provided to the at least one registered user; and

a response module that provides a response to the at least one registered user indicating if at least one incentive is being offered to the at least one registered user by the one or more user-selected restaurants.

100. The system of claim 99 further comprising a selection receiving module that receives a selection from the at least one registered user for an incentive.

101. The system of claim 99, wherein the requests include one or more user-specified dining parameters.

102. The system of claim 101, wherein the user-specified dining parameters include:

a time frame the at least one registered user wants dine; and

a minimum amount of money the at least one registered user is willing to spend.

103. The system of claim 99, wherein the processor determines whether the at least one incentive should be provided to the at least one registered user on an individual basis, and wherein the determination is based on one or more user-specified dining parameters and one or more restaurant-specified business rules.

104. The system of claim 99, wherein if the processor determines that the at least one registered user should be issued the at least one incentive, the processor further determines:

a type of incentive to be issued to the at least one registered user, and

an amount for the at least one incentive to be issued to the at least one registered user.

105. The system of claim 102, wherein the processor determines whether the at least one incentive should be provided to the at least one registered user, at least in part, based on restaurant capacity during the time frame the at least one registered user wants to dine.

106. The system of claim 49, wherein the incentive module includes an auction module further comprising:

a restaurant module for enabling the one or more restaurants to post one or more discount certificates for auction, wherein the one or more discount certificates are valid for use during the non-peak demand period;

enabling the at least one registered user to place a bid on a discount certificate for auction;

processing bids to determine an auction winner; and

awarding the auction winner the discount certificate, wherein the discount certificate is redeemable at a corresponding one of the one or more restaurants during the non-peak demand period.

107. The system of claim 106, wherein the auction winner obtains a discount from a predetermined price during the non-peak demand period and non-winners pay the predetermined price without the discount during the non-peak demand period.

108. The system of claim 106, wherein the discount certificate provides the auction winner with a discount off a predetermined price on a purchase.

109. The system of claim 49, wherein a restaurant having at least two locations offers an incentive to the at least one registered user to dine at a location having more unused capacity than another location.

110. The system of claim 93, wherein the redemption module tracks information about specific items purchased by the at least one registered user through the registered account.

111. The system of claim 110, wherein the one or more restaurants use information about specific items purchased by the at least one registered user to conduct item specific promotions.

112. The system of claim 49, wherein the one or more restaurants offer incentives to the at least one user to dine at the one or more restaurants during non-peak hours to reduce excess capacity.

113. The system of claim 70, wherein the auction module enables the one or more restaurants to auction discount certificates dynamically.

114. The system of claim 70, wherein the request module enables the one or more restaurants to offer incentives dynamically.

115. A system for reducing excess capacity for one or more businesses in an industry that experiences periods of peak demands and periods of non-peak demands and for collecting information about at least one user, the system comprising:

a registration module for obtaining information about at least one user and for registering the at least one user;

an incentive module for providing the at least one registered user with an opportunity to obtain an incentive to purchase a service from a corresponding one of the one or more businesses, wherein the incentive is for use during non-peak demand periods; and

a storing module for storing the information obtained by the registration module about the at least one registered user, wherein the storing module provides the one or more businesses with access to the stored information about the at least one registered user and enables the one or more businesses to generate subsequent incentives to purchase the service from the one or more businesses based on the information about the at least one registered user.

116. The system of claim 115, wherein the incentive module includes one or more of:

an auction module that enables the one or more businesses to auction one or more discount certificates to registered users; and

a request module that enables the one or more businesses to offer an incentive to an individual registered user based on one or more user-specified service parameters.

117. The system of claim 115, wherein the one or more businesses are restaurants.

118. A computer-implemented method of reducing excess capacity for one or more businesses in an industry that experience periods of peak demands and periods of non-peak demands and for collecting information about at least one user, the method comprising:

enabling at least one user to register;

obtaining information from the at least one user;

storing the information about the at least one user in at least one database;

enabling the one or more businesses to offer the at least one registered user an incentive to purchase a service at a corresponding one of the one or more businesses, wherein the incentive is valid during non-peak demand periods; and

providing the one or more businesses with access to the stored information about the at least one registered user and enabling the one or more businesses to generate subsequent incentives to purchase a service at the one or more businesses based on the information about the at least one registered user.

119. The method of claim 118, wherein enabling the one or more businesses to offer at least one registered user an incentive to purchase the service at the corresponding one of the one or more businesses includes:

auctioning a discount certificate having a retail value.

120. The method of claim 118, wherein enabling the one or more businesses to offer at least one registered user an incentive to purchase the service at the corresponding one of the one or more businesses includes:

auctioning a discount certificate having a retail value, wherein an auction winner obtains a discount off a purchase price for a service and other non-winners pay a regular price for the service.

121. The method of claim 118, wherein enabling the one or more businesses to offer at least one registered user an incentive to purchase the service at the corresponding one of the one or more businesses includes:

receiving a request from the at least one registered user for at least one incentive for purchasing the service from the corresponding one of the one or more businesses; and

determining whether the at least one registered user should receive the at least one incentive; and

providing a response to the at least one registered user indicating if the at least one incentive to purchase the service from the corresponding one of the one or more businesses is to be offered to the at least one registered user.

122. The method of claim 118, wherein the one or more businesses are restaurants.

123. A computer-implemented method of reducing excess capacity for one or more restaurants that experience periods of peak demands and periods of non-peak demands and for collecting information about at least one user, the method comprising:

enabling the at least one user to register;

obtaining information from the at least one user;

storing the information about the at least one user in at least one database;

enabling the one or more restaurants to offer the at least one registered user an incentive for dining at a corresponding one of the one or more restaurants, wherein the incentive is for use during non-peak demand periods; and

providing the one or more restaurants with access to the stored information about the at least one registered user and enabling the one or more restaurants to generate subsequent incentives for dining at the one or more restaurants based on the information about the at least one registered user.

124. The method of claim 123, wherein enabling the one or more restaurants to offer at least one registered user an incentive for dining at the corresponding one of the one or more restaurants includes:

auctioning a discount certificate having a predetermined retail value, wherein an auction winner obtains a discount off a dining purchase and other non-winners pay a regular price.

125. The method of claim 123, wherein enabling the one or more restaurants to offer at least one registered user an incentive for dining at the corresponding one of the one or more restaurants includes:

receiving a request from the at least one registered user for at least one incentive to dine at the corresponding one of the one or more restaurants; and

determining whether the at least one registered user should receive the at least one incentive;

providing a response to the at least one registered user indicating if the at least one incentive to dine at the corresponding one of the one or more restaurants is to be offered to the at least one registered user.

126. The method of claim 123, wherein the non-peak demand period is a period that re-occurs daily.

127. The method of claim 123, wherein enabling the one or more restaurants to offer the at least one registered user the incentive for dining at the corresponding one of the one or more restaurants includes offering the at least one registered user one or more of:

a certificate giving a user a predetermined percentage off a purchase, and

a certificate giving a user a predetermined amount off a purchase.

128. The method of claim 123, wherein providing the one or more restaurants with access to the stored information about the at least one registered user includes providing the one or more restaurants with access to the stored information about the at least one registered user that includes at least one of:

a restaurant preference information and

demographic information.

129. The method of claim 123, wherein providing the one or more restaurants with access to the stored information about the at least one registered user includes providing the one or more restaurants with access to the stored information about the at least one registered user that includes two or more of:

a name,

an email address, and

a zip code.

130. The method of claim 123, wherein providing the one or more restaurants with access to the stored information about the at least one registered user includes providing the one or more restaurants with access to the stored information about the at least one registered user that includes one or more of:

a profession,

an income,

a gender, and

an age.

131. The method of claim 123, wherein providing the one or more restaurants with access to the stored information about the at least one registered user includes providing the one or more restaurants with access to the stored information about the at least one registered user that includes restaurant preference information.

132. The method of claim 131, wherein providing the one or more restaurants with access to the stored information about the at least one registered user that includes restaurant preference information includes providing the one or more restaurants with one or more of:

a dining frequency,

one or more favorite restaurants,

one or more favorite types of food,

a preferred price range, and

a preferred location of restaurants.

133. The method of claim 132, wherein the one or more restaurants offer the at least one registered user an incentive based on the restaurant preference information.

134. The method of claim 123, further comprising the steps of:

enabling the one or more restaurants to manage distribution of incentives; and

providing the one or more restaurants with access to the stored information about at least one registered user.

135. The method of claim 134, wherein enabling the one or more restaurants to manage distribution of incentives includes one or more of the following:

enabling the one or more restaurants to create a new auction for a discount certificate,

enabling the one or more restaurants to delete an existing auction for a discount certificate, and

enabling the one or more restaurants to modify an existing auction for a discount certificate.

136. The method of claim 134, wherein providing the one or more restaurants with access to the stored information about the at least one registered user includes enabling the restaurant to view one or more of the following:

aggregate data on user demographics information;

aggregate data on user preferences information;

individual data on user demographics information; and

individual data on user preferences information.

137. The method of claim 134 further comprising:

enabling the one or more restaurants to create a survey for obtaining additional information about the at least one registered user.

138. The method of claim 136, wherein the user demographics information includes one or more of:

a gender,

an age,

an occupation,

an annual income, and

a zip code.

139. The method of claim 136, wherein the user preferences information includes one or more of:

a frequency of dining out,

a preferred way to learn of a promotion, and

price sensitivity information.

140. The method of claim 139, wherein the one or more restaurants create a targeted promotion based on the user preferences information and the one or more restaurants communicate the promotion to selected registered users according to the preferred way to learn of a promotion of the selected registered users.

141. The method of claim 136, wherein the one or more restaurants use the demographics and user preferences information to market incentives to a predetermined group of registered users.

142. The method of claim 134 further comprising enabling the one or more restaurants to create targeted market strategies based on the stored information about the at least one registered user.

143. The method of claim 134 further comprising maintaining sales history that enables the one or more restaurants to track sales made using incentives.

144. The method of claim 143, wherein the sales history includes information about the at least one registered user that uses an incentive at a corresponding one of the one or more restaurants, wherein the information about the at least one registered user includes at least two of the following:

contact information for the at least one registered user,

biological information for the at least one registered user,

purchasing habit information for the at least one registered user, and

dining preference information for the at least one registered user.

145. The method of claim 143, wherein the sales history includes one or more of:

sales made to an individual user,

sales made at restaurant locations, and

sales made during a predetermined time period.

146. The method of claim 123, wherein enabling the one or more restaurants to offer at least one registered user an incentive for dining at a corresponding one of the one or more restaurants includes one or more of:

auctioning a discount certificate for dining at the corresponding one of the one or more restaurants to registered users; and

responding to a request from an individual registered user for an incentive for dining at a corresponding one of the one or more restaurants by offering an incentive for dining at the corresponding one of the one or more restaurants to the individual registered user, wherein the request includes one or more user-specified dining parameters.

147. The method of claim 146, wherein responding to a request from an individual registered user for an incentive includes deciding whether to offer the incentive to the individual registered user based on at least one of the following:

whether the individual registered user has dined at the corresponding restaurant in the past,

whether a favorite restaurant of the individual registered user is a competitor of the corresponding one of the one or more restaurants, and

a dining frequency of the individual registered user.

148. The method of claim 146, wherein the corresponding one of the one or more restaurants has at least a first location and a second location;

and wherein the corresponding one of the one or more restaurants provides incentives to dine at the second location in response to a request for an incentive to dine at the first location made by the individual user.

149. The method of claim 146, wherein auctioning the discount certificate for dining at the corresponding one of the one or more restaurants to registered users further includes enabling the one or more restaurants to schedule auctions for a plurality of discount certificates.

150. The method of claim 149, wherein the auctions are scheduled to occur during regularly scheduled intervals.

151. The method of claim 146, wherein the incentive is requested on-line via a web-site.

152. The method of claim 146, wherein the discount certificate is auctioned on-line via a web-site.

153. The method of claim 123, wherein enabling the one or more restaurants to offer at least one registered user the incentive for dining at the corresponding one of the one or more restaurants further includes offering the at least one registered user an opportunity to purchase a discount certificate for a fixed price that is less than a retail value for the discount certificate.

154. The method of claim 123 further comprising providing the at least one registered user with information about the one or more restaurants.

155. The method of claim 154 further comprising enabling the at least one registered user to conduct a search of the one or more restaurants by one or more of:

a cuisine type,

a location of a restaurant, and

a price range.

156. The method of claim 154 further comprising providing the at least one registered user with a guide listing that includes one or more of:

a community restaurant rating, and

consumer review information.

157. The method of claim 156 further comprising suggesting a restaurant choice to the at least one registered user based on a similarity between preference information for the at least one registered user and preference information for other registered users that have provided consumer review information.

158. The method of claim 154 further comprising displaying auctions for discount certificates that are currently in progress.

159. The method of claim 154 further comprising enabling the at least one registered user to search for current auctions for discount certificates by one or more of:

a cuisine type,

a restaurant name, and

a location of restaurant.

160. The method of claim 154 further comprising providing reward incentives to registered users that provide information about a potential user.

161. The method of claim 160, wherein the reward incentives are used to obtain discount certificates.

162. The method of claim 123, wherein the method is conducted by a web-site.

163. The method of claim 123 further comprising:

billing the one or more restaurants according to a number of incentives successfully offered to the at least one registered user.

164. The method of claim 123 further comprising:

billing the one or more restaurants for enabling the one or more restaurants to access the stored information about the at least one registered user.

165. The method of claim 146 further comprising:

billing the one or more restaurants according to a number of discount certificates posted for auction.

166. The method of claim 123 further comprising:

enabling the at least one registered user to redeem the incentive at the corresponding one of the one or more restaurants to obtain a discount off a purchase.

167. The method of claim 166, wherein enabling the at least one registered user to redeem the incentive at the corresponding one of the one or more restaurants to obtain the discount off the purchase further includes:

registering an account corresponding to the at least one registered user in a restaurant payment processing system associated with the corresponding one of the one or more restaurants; and

crediting an amount for the incentive to the registered account at a time of payment for the purchase.

168. The method of claim 166, wherein the incentive is downloaded by the at least one registered user from a web-site.

169. The method of claim 166, wherein the incentive is sent to the at least one registered user via electronic mail.

170. The method of claim 166, wherein the incentive is sent to the corresponding one of the one or more restaurants such that the at least one registered user notifies the corresponding one of the one or more restaurants at a time of payment for the purchase.

171. The method of claim 123 further comprising enabling the at least one registered user to make a reservation at the corresponding one of the one or more restaurants.

172. The method of claim 146 further comprising enabling the at least one registered user to make a reservation at the corresponding one of the one or more restaurants in response to one of the following:

being awarded a discount certificate for winning an on-line auction; and

being offered an incentive in response to a request for an incentive for dining at the corresponding one of the one or more restaurants made by the at least one registered user.

173. The method of claim 123, wherein enabling the one or more restaurants to offer at least one registered user the incentive for dining at the corresponding one of the one or more restaurants further includes:

receiving a request from the at least one registered user for incentives to dine at selected ones of the one or more restaurants;

processing the request to determine whether at least one incentive should be provided to the at least one registered user; and

generating a response to the at least one registered user indicating if the at least one incentive is being offered to the at least one registered user by the selected ones of the one or more restaurants.

174. The method of claim 173, wherein the request includes one or more user-specified dining parameters.

175. The method of claim 174, wherein the user-specified dining parameters include:

a time frame the at least one registered user wants to dine, and

a minimum amount of money the at least one registered user is willing to spend.

176. The method of claim 173, wherein processing the request determines whether the at least one incentive should be provided to the at least one registered user on an individual basis, and wherein the determination is based on one or more user-specified dining parameters and one or more restaurant-specified business rules.

177. The method of claim 173, wherein if processing determines that the at least one registered user should be issued at least one incentive, determining:

a type of incentive, and

an amount of the at least one incentive.

178. The method of claim 175, wherein processing determines whether the at least one incentive should be provided to the at least one registered user is, at least in part, based on restaurant capacity during the time frame the at least one registered user wants to dine.

179. The method of claim 123, wherein enabling the one or more restaurants to offer the at least one registered user the incentive for dining at the corresponding one of the one or more restaurants further comprises:

enabling the one or more restaurants to post one or more discount certificates for auction, wherein the one or more discount certificates are valid for use during the non-peak demand period;

enabling the at least one registered user to place a bid on a discount certificate for auction;

processing bids to determine an auction winner; and

awarding the auction winner the discount certificate, wherein the discount certificate is redeemable at the corresponding one of the one or more restaurants during the non-peak demand period.

180. The method of claim 179, wherein the auction winner obtains a discount from a predetermined price during the non-peak demand period and non-winners pay the predetermined price without the discount during the non-peak demand period.

181. The method of claim 179, wherein the discount certificate provides the auction winner with a discount off a predetermined price on a purchase.

182. The method of claim 123, wherein a restaurant having at least two locations offers an incentive to the at least one registered user to promote a location having more unused capacity than another location.

183. The method of claim 167 further comprising, tracking information about specific items purchased by the at least one registered user through the registered account.

184. The method of claim 183, wherein the one or more restaurants use information about specific items purchased by the at least one registered user to conduct item specific promotions.

185. The method of claim 123, wherein the one or more restaurants offer incentives to the at least one registered user to dine at the one or more restaurants during non-peak hours to reduce excess capacity.

186. The method of claim 146, wherein auctioning the discount certificate for dining at the corresponding one of the one or more restaurants to registered users enables the one or more restaurants to auction discount certificates dynamically.

187. The method of claim 146, wherein responding to a request from the individual registered user for the incentive enables the one or more restaurants to offer incentives dynamically.

188. A system for reducing excess capacity for one or more restaurants that experience periods of peak demands and periods of non-peak demands, the system comprising:

a registration module that obtains information about at least one user, wherein the information about the at least one user includes two or more of;

a name;

a phone number; and

an email address;

a request module comprising;

a select restaurant module that enables the at least one user to select a restaurant; and

a dining parameters module that receives one or more user specified dining parameters from the at least one user, wherein the one or more user specified dining parameters include two or more of;

a date when the at least one user wants to dine;

a meal time parameter, wherein the meal time parameter is associated with a time frame that the at least one user wants to dine; and

a party size;

an offer display module that determines whether one or more incentives to dine at the selected restaurant are available to the at least one user based on the one or more user specified parameters; and

a reservation module that enables the at least one user to make a reservation at the selected restaurant.

189. The system of claim 188, wherein if the offer display module determines that the one or more incentives to dine at the selected restaurant are available to the at least one user, the one or more incentives are valid during non-peak hours.

190. The system of claim 188, wherein if the offer display module determines that the one or more incentives to dine at the selected restaurant are available to the at least one user, the offer display module determines an incentive amount for the one or more incentives.

191. The system of claim 188, wherein if the offer display module determines that the one or more incentives to dine at the selected restaurant are available to the at least one user, the offer display module informs the selected restaurant of the one or more incentives such that the at least one user notifies the selected restaurant at a time of payment for the purchase.

192. The system of claim 188, wherein if the offer display module determines that the one or more incentives to dine at the selected restaurant are available to the at least one user, the user receives the one or more incentives by one of the following:

downloading the one or more incentives from a web-site;

receiving the one or more incentives in an electronic mail; and

receiving credit to an account associated with the at least one user for an incentive amount that corresponds to the one or more incentives at a time of payment.

193. The system of claim 190, wherein the incentive amount is based on restaurant capacity.

194. The system of claim 188, wherein the select restaurant module enables the at least one user to search the one or more restaurants by one or more of:

a cuisine type;

a restaurant name; and

a restaurant location.

195. The system of claim 188 further comprising an award and referral module that provides reward incentives to users that provide information about a potential user.

196. The system of claim 195, wherein the reward incentives are used to obtain discount certificates to the one or more restaurants.

197. The system of claim 188 further comprising a discount certificate module that enables the at least one user to purchase a discount certificate for less than a retail value.

198. An on-line method of reducing excess capacity for one or more restaurants that experience periods of peak demands and periods of non-peak demands, the method comprising:

receiving a restaurant selection from at least one user;

receiving one or more user specified dining parameters from the at least one user, wherein the one or more user specified dining parameters include;

a date when the at least one user wants to dine;

a meal time parameter, wherein the meal time parameter is associated with a time frame that the at least one user wants to dine; and

a party size;

processing the one or more user specified dining parameters to determine whether one or more incentives to dine at the selected restaurant should be provided to the at least one user, the determination being made based on the one or more user specified dining parameters and a restaurant capacity for the selected restaurant;

presenting the one or more incentives to dine that are available to the at least one user if it is determined that one or more incentives should be provided to the at least one user.

199. The method of claim 198 further comprising:

enabling the at least one user to select an incentive and make a reservation at the selected restaurant according to the one or more user specified dining parameters.

200. The method of claim 198 wherein the one or more incentives to dine that are presented to the at least one user are valid during non-peak hours.

201. The method of claim 198 wherein if the it is determined that one or more incentives should be provided to the at least one user, then determining corresponding incentive amounts.

202. The method of claim 198 wherein receiving a restaurant selection from at least one user includes:

enabling the at least one user to search the one or more restaurants by one or more of;

a cuisine type;

a restaurant name; and

a restaurant location.

203. The method of claim 198 further comprising:

receiving information about a potential user from the at least one user; and

awarding the at least one user a reward incentive for providing information about a potential user to the system.

204. The method of claim 198 wherein presenting one or more incentives to dine to the at least one user includes:

informing the selected restaurant of the one or more incentives such that the at least one user notifies the selected restaurant at a time of payment for the purchase

205. The method of claim 198, wherein presenting the one or more incentives to dine that are available to the at least one user includes:

enabling the at least one user to receive the one or more incentives by one of the following;

downloading the one or more incentives from a web-site;

receiving the one or more incentives in an electronic mail; and

receiving credit to an account associated with the at least one user for an amount of the one or more incentives at a time of payment.